LOS ANGELES, Feb. 13, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) today announced support for the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) new Incentive Reservation System for the CPUC biomethane monetary incentive program.  The reservation system will help increase transparency about available incentive funding for biomethane interconnection projects in the state.  Currently, there is about $32 million in funding available through the incentive program.  This money is available for eligible projects on a "first come, first served" basis through December 31, 2026 or until the money runs out, whichever occurs first.

The new reservation system is an important step to give biomethane developers certainty the money they applied for will be there at the end of the project.  Another benefit of the reservation system is that it can help spur additional interconnection projects.

"SoCalGas commends the CPUC for establishing an incentive reservation system," said Sharon Tomkins, vice president of strategy and engagement and chief environmental officer for SoCalGas.  "It is my hope that state policymakers will realize the increased demand for renewable natural gas projects and make additional incentive funding available for many years to come."

Renewable natural gas (RNG) is a clean fuel produced from our waste streams (i.e. sewers and food waste, as well as dairy and agricultural waste) and can be used to heat homes and businesses, for cooking, and to fuel trucks and buses.  California law requires 40 percent of methane from sewage treatments plants, landfills, dairies and other agriculture to be captured, with provisions for energy delivery to customers as part of the state's ambitious plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

RNG can take more carbon out of the air than it emits as an energy source, which makes it a carbon negative fuel.  Last month, the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory issued a report assessing pathways California can take to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045.  The study found the pathway that holds the greatest potential for removing emissions from the atmosphere is to convert waste to fuel, with simultaneous capture of CO₂ emissions.  Estimates show this pathway could remove 83 million tons of CO₂ per year.

Last year, SoCalGas announced its vision to be the cleanest gas utility in North America.  As part of that vision, the utility committed to replacing 5 percent of its natural gas supplies with RNG by 2022 and 20 percent of its supplies with RNG by 2030.  A 2018 study shows replacing about 20 percent of California's natural gas supply with RNG offers the same emissions reduction as electrifying all of the buildings in the state, but at half the cost.

There is widespread consumer preference for natural gas appliances in California and multiple studies have shown RNG is a cost-effective solution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  Additionally, a recently released analysis shows that by 2040, there will be enough RNG available nationwide to replace 90 percent of fossil natural gas in US homes.

The reservation system opened on February 3, 2020.  Customers who wish to apply for incentive funding should fill out this form.

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. 

SOURCE Southern California Gas Company