LOS ANGELES, Sept. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- California Governor Jerry Brown today signed into law Senate Bill 1383, the Short-Lived Climate Pollutants bill, which aims to reduce emissions of potent greenhouse gasses. SB 1383 requires the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to develop a plan and implement strategies to cut super pollutant emissions, with specific targets to reduce methane and fluorinated gases (fgases) by 40 percent, and black carbon by 50 percent by 2030. It also requires state agencies to adopt policies and incentives to significantly increase the sustainable production and use of renewable gas. The bill requires the Public Utilities Commission to work with the CARB and the Department of Food and Agriculture to direct gas corporations to implement at least five dairy bio-methane pilot projects that connect to the gas pipeline system in the next two years. SB 1383 is considered the most aggressive law to tackle short-lived climate pollutants in the nation. SoCalGas issued the following statement commending the Governor for signing the bill:
"SoCalGas commends SB 1383's sponsor Senator Ricardo Lara (D-33) and Governor Brown for bringing California this bold legislation that will help drive innovation and develop the market for renewable natural gas.
"Investments in natural gas have already helped clean our air and slow climate change in many ways, through natural gas vehicles, buses and new energy-efficient technologies. Because commercial transportation is by far California's largest source of air pollution, SoCalGas' natural gas vehicle (NGV) program is reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 750,000 tons a year and NOx emissions by 1,600 tons each year.
"Using renewable natural gas is the next step in addressing climate issues. SB 1383 will increase the amount of natural gas we use from renewable sources. Ninety-four percent of methane emissions in California come from waste streams, like landfills and dairy farms. This wasted methane can be harnessed so that instead of contributing to climate change it can instead be distributed through our existing natural gas pipeline infrastructure to fuel heavy-duty trucks, heat homes, cook meals, or generate electricity as renewable energy.
"California could produce almost 300 billion cubic feet of renewable gas per year just from organic waste. Instead of sending that waste to landfills or burning it, it could be used to generate enough renewable electricity to power two-to-three million homes. In fact, studies show that existing organic waste alone could supply more than 15 percent of our current natural gas demand if converted to methane.
"As the largest gas distributor in the nation, SoCalGas is positioned to make the infrastructure investments necessary to maximize the production and use of renewable natural gas. We are eager to partner with critical California industries like dairies, landfills, and others to develop the biomethane pilot programs this law requires, help build the market for renewable natural gas, and continue helping to reduce black carbon emissions through our natural gas vehicle program."
About SoCalGas
Southern California Gas Co. has been delivering clean, safe and reliable natural gas to its customers for more than 145 years. It is the nation's largest natural gas distribution utility, providing service to 21.6 million consumers connected through 5.9 million meters in more than 500 communities. The company's service territory encompasses approximately 20,000 square miles throughout central and Southern California, from Visalia to the Mexican border. Southern California Gas Co. is a regulated subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), a Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in San Diego.
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SOURCE Southern California Gas Company