LOS ANGELES, Feb. 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern California
Gas Co. (SoCalGas), officials from the San Joaquin Valley Air
Pollution Control District and Western Milling, one of the largest
and most diverse manufacturers and suppliers of nutrient solutions
for plants, animals, and people in the U.S., unveiled the first of
a planned 30 new ultra-low emissions trucks the company will deploy
at its operation in Goshen, Calif.
The near-zero emissions natural gas trucks will be fueled with
renewable natural gas (RNG) that can virtually eliminate
smog-forming pollutants and reduce greenhouse gas emissions linked
to climate change by as much as 80 percent. These new trucks are
powered by a 12-liter Cummins Westport engine, the first engine of
its kind to meet the California Air Resources Board (CARB) optional
low NOx standard. In addition, Western Milling revealed plans to
open a new public fueling station supplying renewable natural gas
in the city of Goshen later this
year.
"Through the use of heavy-duty renewable CNG trucks, we're
becoming more sustainable while simultaneously creating value for
our employee owners," said Kevin
Kruse, CEO at Western Milling. "It's good for everyone
involved; us, our customers, and the communities in which we
serve."
"The combination of new near‑zero‑emission natural gas engine
technology and RNG provides the single best opportunity to achieve
immediate and substantial NOx and GHG emission reductions in the
on‑road heavy‑duty transportation sector," said Tom Swenson, business development manager at
Cummins Westport. "We are proud to support a near-zero emissions
strategy for our customers."
Western Milling's investment in its new natural gas trucks was
supported by the San Joaquin Air Pollution Control District's Truck
Replacement Program, an initiative to replace on-road diesel trucks
with cleaner technology units or to expand fleets with the cleanest
technology available – particularly in low income and disadvantaged
communities experiencing greater air quality impacts. The program
provides funding under its Standard Replacement, 2010 Compliant
Replacement, and Fleet Expansion program options.
"As a public health agency serving the San Joaquin Valley, we are committed to
improving the health and quality of life for all Valley residents
through efficient, effective and entrepreneurial air quality
management strategies. We are proud to support local companies
investing in switching their diesel fueled trucks to clean natural
gas trucks," said Samir Sheikh,
executive director of Air Pollution Control Officer for the San
Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. "We applaud Western
Milling's commitment to clean air and public health."
"At SoCalGas we are committed to raising awareness on how
near-zero emissions natural gas trucks can help improve air quality
and reduce greenhouse gas emissions," said Gillian Wright, senior vice president of
customer relations at SoCalGas. "A huge congratulations to Western
Milling as they invest in their future and cleaner air for the
San Joaquin Valley."
In California, transportation account for more than 40
percent of greenhouse gas emissions and 80 percent of smog-forming
pollution in the state, with heavy-duty trucks among the largest
polluters. In the San Joaquin Valley, car and truck emissions
make up about half of all measured airborne particulate matter,
according to CARB.
Over the last five years, RNG use as a transportation fuel for
heavy-duty trucks and buses has increased almost 600 percent,
helping displace over seven million tons of carbon dioxide
equivalent. That's equal to the emissions from more than a million
homes' electricity use for one year.
RNG is not a fossil fuel. It is a renewable form of energy
produced from the methane emissions at dairy farms, wastewater
treatment plants, landfills, and other waste streams. Depending on
its source, RNG can be carbon negative, meaning it takes out more
emissions from the atmosphere than it emits when used as a fuel.
Capturing the methane from these waste sources and converting it
into RNG keeps greenhouse gas emissions from entering the
atmosphere and contributing to climate change and reduces the use
of fossil fuels.
SoCalGas has worked with fleet owners to secure
millions of dollars in incentive funding for the replacement of
diesel trucks with cleaner, new near-zero emissions natural gas
trucks. Since 2014, the utility has helped truckers and trucking
companies replace more than 550 diesel trucks with clean natural
gas trucks. That equates to taking about 30,000 cars off
California's roads. Recently,
SoCalGas supported a Los Angeles-Long Beach Port trucking
company with their efforts to replace its entire 40 diesel
truck fleet with near-zero emissions natural gas trucks.
Each new near-zero emissions natural gas truck that replaces a
diesel truck is the equivalent of taking 57 passenger cars off the
road.
Last month, SoCalGas opened a new RNG fueling station in
Bakersfield. The new RNG station
extends the network of clean natural gas stations across a key
regional goods movement corridor in the San Joaquin Valley, which experiences the
worst particulate matter pollution in the state, according to CARB.
SoCalGas currently operates 15 public RNG fueling stations across
its service territory.
For pictures of today's event click HERE.
About SoCalGas
Headquartered in Los Angeles, SoCalGas® is
the largest gas distribution utility in the
United States. SoCalGas delivers
affordable, reliable, clean and increasingly renewable 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. Gas delivered through the company's
pipelines also plays a key role in providing electricity to
Californians— about 45 percent of electric power
generated in the state comes from gas-fired power plants.
SoCalGas' vision is to be the cleanest gas utility in
North America, delivering
affordable and increasingly renewable energy to its customers. In
support of that vision, SoCalGas is committed to replacing 20
percent of its traditional natural gas supply with renewable
natural gas (RNG) by 2030. Renewable natural gas is made from
waste created by dairy farms, landfills and wastewater treatment
plants. SoCalGas is also committed to investing in its gas delivery
infrastructure while keeping bills affordable for our customers.
From 2014 through 2018, the company invested nearly $6.5
billion to upgrade and modernize its pipeline system to
enhance safety and reliability. 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