In support of California Clean Air Day, Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) is pledging to reduce its yearly use of air conditioning at each of the company's 60 work locations on an ongoing basis. SoCalGas is taking these steps to reduce its energy use and emissions as part of a statewide program designed to unite people and organizations to improve the overall health of communities.
The new initiative is expected to reduce the utility’s overall electricity usage by more than 86,000 kilowatt-hours per year – the equivalent of more than 157,000 miles driven by an average passenger car.
Renewable Natural Gas Advancements
In an effort to reduce emissions and support renewable energy use, SoCalGas also has been working to expand the production and use of renewable natural gas in California.
SoCalGas recently announced it will soon begin using renewable natural gas (RNG) for the first time at the 25 utility-owned natural gas vehicle fueling stations across its service territory, as well as at six fueling stations in the San Diego area.
Earlier this year, SoCalGas also announced that RNG produced from organic waste in California is now being used in the SoCalGas pipeline system for the first time. SoCalGas and waste management company CR&R Environmental (CR&R) are injecting RNG produced at CR&R's facility in Perris, Calif., into the SoCalGas system. Renewable natural gas is already being used by a local waste hauler as fuel for 400 of its collection trucks and is reducing emissions equal to taking 130,000 cars off the road.
Today, the transportation sector is responsible for about 41 percent of California's greenhouse gas emissions and 80 percent of smog-forming pollution. The latest heavy-duty natural gas engines can cut smog-forming emissions by more than 90 percent compared to the cleanest heavy-duty diesel trucks on the road today. Close to 70 percent of natural gas fleets in California are now being fueled with renewable natural gas.
