LOS ANGELES, Dec. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) today issued details of its plan to implement Senate Bill 1383, the Short-Lived Climate Pollutants bill, which aims to reduce emissions of potent greenhouse gasses. The bill requires state agencies to adopt policies and incentives to significantly increase the sustainable production and use of renewable gas. CPUC worked with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to outline a solicitation process and a timeline for selecting at least five dairy biomethane projects which will be connected to the gas pipeline system. SoCalGas was selected to lead the solicitation process in coordination with the other utilities. The project selection committee will be made up of the CPUC, CARB and CDFA.
SB 1383 is considered the most aggressive law to tackle short-lived climate pollutants in the nation. SoCalGas issued the following statement in response:
"SoCalGas is excited to be selected by the CPUC to play a leading role in implementing this visionary legislation that will help meet the state's climate goals, drive innovation, and develop supplies of renewable natural gas for Californians. The CPUC has established a program that will play an important part in reducing these methane emissions.
"Renewable natural gas, with its ability to turn methane emissions into a source of energy, is a critical element of a comprehensive approach to climate change. About 80 percent of methane emissions in California come from waste streams. These emissions can be harnessed so that instead of contributing to climate change they can instead be converted to renewable natural gas and distributed through our existing pipeline infrastructure to fuel heavy-duty trucks, heat homes, cook meals, or generate electricity as renewable energy. And because renewable gas can be stored and delivered through existing infrastructure, the technology can be implemented quickly to help California reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet the state's renewable energy goals.
"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 look forward to partnering with California dairies to develop the biomethane pilot programs this law requires and help build the market for renewable natural gas, contributing to accomplishment of our state's environmental objectives and priorities."
About SoCalGas
Headquartered in Los Angeles, SoCalGas® is the largest natural gas distribution utility in the United States, providing clean, safe, affordable and reliable natural gas service to 21.7 million customers in Central and Southern California. Its service territory spans 22,000 square miles from Fresno to the Mexican border, reaching more than 550 communities through 5.9 million meters and 101,000 miles of pipeline. More than 90 percent of Southern California single-family home residents use natural gas for home heat and hot water. In addition, natural gas 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 has served communities in California for 150 years and is committed to being a leader in the region's clean energy future. The company has committed to spending $6 billion over the next five years to modernize and upgrade its gas infrastructure, while also reducing methane emissions. SoCalGas is working to accelerate the use of renewable natural gas, a carbon-neutral or carbon-negative fuel created by capturing and conditioning greenhouse gas emissions from farms, landfills and wastewater treatment plants. The company is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), a Fortune 500 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.
SOURCE Southern California Gas Company