SoCalGas Statement in Support of New California Public Utilities Commission, Air Resources Board and Department of Food and Agriculture Dairy Biomethane Pilot Projects

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The California Public Utilities Commission, Air Resources Board and the California Department of Food and Agriculture today announced the selection of six dairy biomethane projects that will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from animal manure by putting dairy methane waste to use as a transportation fuel.  SoCalGas offers the following statement in response to the announcement:

"SoCalGas applauds the California Public Utilities Commission, Air Resources Board (CARB), and Department of Food and Agriculture for today's announcement that the state will fund six pilot projects in the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys designed to harness methane emissions from dairy digesters and convert that energy into renewable natural gas.

"Renewable natural gas from other states has already begun to clean the air and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in California's transportation sector, which accounts for more than 80 percent of smog-forming emissions and about 40 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the state. 

"Heavy duty trucks are a significant source of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in California. When those trucks are fueled with renewable natural gas, greenhouse gas emissions can be cut by 80 percent or more.  Already, about 70 percent of natural gas trucks in California are fueled by renewable gas delivered by SoCalGas pipelines.

"Renewable natural gas is also a cost-effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in residential and commercial buildings. According to a recent study by Navigant Consulting, Inc., replacing a fraction of the traditional natural gas supply with renewable gas can achieve greenhouse gas reductions equivalent to converting 100 percent of buildings to electric-only energy by 2030.

"Estimates by researchers at the University of California, Davis suggest more than 20 percent of California's current residential natural gas use can be provided by renewable gas made from the state's existing organic waste.

"Today's announcement is an important step in helping decarbonize the natural gas system, while protecting Californians' rights for affordable energy options."

About SoCalGas

Headquartered in Los Angeles, SoCalGas® is the largest natural gas distribution utility in the United States. SoCalGas delivers affordable, reliable, clean and increasingly renewable natural gas service to 21.8 million customers across 24,000 square miles of Central and Southern California, where more than 90 percent of residents use natural gas for heating, hot water, cooking, drying clothes or other uses. Natural gas delivered through the company's pipelines also plays a key role in providing electricity to Californians—about 60 percent of electric power generated in the state comes from gas-fired power plants.  

SoCalGas is committed to investing in its natural gas system infrastructure, while keeping bills affordable for our customers. From 2013 through 2017, the company spent nearly $6 billion to upgrade and modernize its natural gas system to enhance safety and reliability. The company is also committed to being a leader in the region's clean energy future, and is working to accelerate the use of renewable natural gas from dairy farms, landfills and wastewater treatment plants and the development of renewable energy storage technologies. SoCalGas is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), an energy services holding company based in San Diego. For more information visit socalgas.com/newsroom or connect with SoCalGas on Twitter (@SoCalGas), Instagram (@SoCalGas) and Facebook. 

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SOURCE Southern California Gas Company