Southern California Gas Company recently published its section of parent company Sempra’s 2022 Corporate Sustainability Report detailing SoCalGas’ dedication toward advancing the clean energy transition.
“Every Californian deserves a clean, affordable, safe and resilient energy future and our sustainability strategy sets the path to achieve that future through innovation, collaboration and decarbonization,” said Jawaad Malik, chief strategy and sustainability officer at SoCalGas.
“Over the last year, our progress continues to drive better business outcomes, create new opportunities for our skilled employees, and build stronger and more resilient communities across our service territory.”
In support of enabling the energy transition, SoCalGas announced its proposal to develop Angeles Link, an energy transportation infrastructure system that could deliver reliable clean renewable hydrogen to the Los Angeles Basin for use in heavy-duty transportation, industrial processes, electric generation and other “hard-to-electrify” sectors of the Southern California economy.
Additionally, SoCalGas demonstrated how a renewable hydrogen microgrid can provide a resilient and reliable source of power. According to the utility company, this technology could allow neighborhoods to operate independently from electric grids that may subject customers to power loss or interruptions in service on days when grid reliability is compromised by heatwaves, wildfires, rain, persistent cloud cover and other types of severe weather or equipment failure.
“As we work toward achieving California’s ambitious clean energy goals, SoCalGas’ forward-thinking solutions, at scale and in collaboration with state and federal partners, offer real promise on paving the way for the essential role clean energy sources like hydrogen will play in meeting future energy demand,” said state Sen. Josh Newman.
“As we make the necessary plans and investments in the infrastructure for a clean energy economy, innovative solutions like the ones under development at SoCalGas can breathe new life into existing infrastructure systems, helping our state decarbonize affordably while providing Californians the energy supply necessary to power one of the world’s largest and most dynamic economies.”
In 2022, SoCalGas also became the first gas-only utility in the United States to issue green bonds in a public offering. SoCalGas raised $600 million in bonds to support projects within its sustainability initiatives. The net proceeds from the fixed-rate green bonds will finance or refinance sustainability investments in pollution prevention and control, green buildings and clean transportation.
First published in the May 27 print issue of the Burbank Leader.
