SoCalGas will replace 20 percent of its traditional natural gas supply with renewable natural gas (RNG) by 2030

The March 2019  announcement is part of SoCalGas' (Southern California Gas Co) vision to be the cleanest natural gas utility in North America, delivering affordable and increasingly renewable energy to its customers. To kickstart the plan, SoCalGas will pursue regulatory authority to implement a broad renewable natural gas procurement program with a goal of replacing five percent of its natural gas supply with RNG by 2022. SoCalGas also recently filed a request with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to allow customers to purchase renewable natural gas for their homes. SoCalGas aims to have CPUC approval of its voluntary program by the end of the year.

Renewable natural gas is a clean fuel produced from our waste streams (i.e., sewers and food waste, as well as dairy and agriculture waste) and can be used like traditional natural gas to heat homes and businesses, for cooking, and to fuel trucks and buses. RNG reduces GHG emissions because it can take more GHG emissions out of the air than it emits as an energy source. In 2016, Governor Brown signed legislation to reduce short-lived climate pollutants, including methane from organic sources. The law requires 40 percent of methane from sewage treatment plants, landfills and agriculture to be captured, with provisions for energy delivery to customers.

SoCalGas' commitment to develop RNG is part of a broader, integrated vision for the future of clean energy that keeps energy affordable, expands consumer choice, and develops long-term and seasonal renewable energy storage using existing infrastructure.

"Our vision is to become the cleanest natural gas utility in North America, delivering affordable and increasingly renewable energy to our customers," said Bret Lane, SoCalGas' chief executive officer. "Californians deserve clean, safe, and reliable energy that every family can afford. Today's announcement is an important step toward delivering a clean energy future that works for every family and business in our state."