LOS ANGELES, September 19, 2017 – Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) today announced the company was named “Partner of the Year” by the Institute for Local Government (ILG). The award honors SoCalGas’ work as a partner in the Statewide Energy Efficiency Collaborative (SEEC), which provides no-cost resources to support the energy and climate initiatives of local governments in California.  SoCalGas director of customer programs and assistance, Dan Rendler, accepted the award on the company’s behalf at the Spotlight Beacon Awards reception last Thursday in Sacramento.

SEEC is an alliance established to facilitate action by California cities and counties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save energy, and implement sustainability practices that address climate change.  SoCalGas is a key member of SEEC, helping to support the environmental initiatives of local governments across its service territory. 

One example is SoCalGas’ current work with the cities of Norwalk, South Gate, Downey, Lynwood and Lakewood through the CivicSpark program. In support of this program, SoCalGas has helped provide resources for these cities so they can continue to make progress toward implementing projects and policies that reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. In addition to supporting the CivicSpark program, SoCalGas is partnering with the City of South Gate on a pilot project to implement energy efficiency measures for low-income customers whose homes may be older and have challenges that prevent successful energy efficiency improvements.

“SoCalGas is proud of the work we do to help local governments focus on environmental sustainability,” said Rendler in accepting the Partner of the Year Award.  “In addition to energy efficiency programs, we’re encouraging cities to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, in part through an increased use of renewable natural gas in transit and other fleets.”

According to the California Air Resources Board, renewable natural gas sourced from landfill-diverted food and green waste can provide a 125 percent reduction in GHG emissions, and renewable natural gas from dairy farms can result in a 400 percent reduction in GHG emissions when replacing traditional vehicle fuels. 

In addition to SoCalGas, 57 cities and counties were also recognized with Spotlight Awards for achievements in sustainability, energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reductions.

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. 

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