Earlier today the Los Angeles Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s board of directors voted unanimously to authorize its Chief Executive Officer to award a five-year contract to purchase renewable natural gas for use in LA Metro’s bus fleet. SoCalGas issued the following statement in response:

“SoCalGas applauds the leadership and vision of the LA Metro board of directors for choosing to fuel Los Angeles’ bus fleet with renewable natural gas.  This decision will have far-reaching positive effects for Angelinos and the environment.

“Buses powered by near-zero emissions renewable natural gas engines will reduce particulate matter by 600 percent over the next 40 years, per the most recent Metro lifecycle emissions study, so they contribute to cleaner air and have a positive effect on the health of county and city residents. 

“What’s more, these renewable gas buses slash greenhouse gases (GHGs) by 72 percent (which compares to just 53 percent for electric buses), so they help California meet its ambitious greenhouse gas reduction goals.

“The California Energy Commission has reported that ‘natural gas engines and emission control technologies that achieve the Air Resources Board optional low oxides of nitrogen (NOX) emission standard are now commercially available, and, when combined with biomethane fuel, can reduce the lifecycle emissions of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles to levels near or equal to those of zero emission electric vehicles.’^[1]

“The choice to use renewable natural gas in LA Metro buses will lead to better health, reduced climate pollutants, and a better future for Los Angeles County.”

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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. 

SoCalGas is Committed to Renewable Gas

Just like electricity, natural gas can be made from renewable sources. California produces a great deal of renewable forms of methane (natural gas) from farm operations, landfills and wastewater treatment plants that could be harnessed to reduce GHG emissions and create additional renewable energy. California could produce enough renewable gas each year to replace 75 percent of the smog-producing diesel fuel used by vehicles in our state or power 2 to 3 million homes. And because renewable gas can be stored and delivered through existing infrastructure, it can help California reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet the state's renewable energy goals without waiting for new infrastructure or new technology.