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