Industry Leaders to Share Expertise on Renewable Natural Gas Business Development

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Leaders in the biogas and renewable gas industry will gather in Sacramento today to share their knowledge of this growing business. Utilities Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), along with national nonprofit organization Energy Vision, will host the free one-day conference, called "The Power of Waste: Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) for California."

"'The Power of Waste' workshop brings together experts in the field of sustainable energy and provides a valuable day of learning and conversation for anyone interested in becoming more knowledgeable about renewable gas opportunities, including the economic and policy landscape," said Lisa Alexander, vice president of customer solutions and communications at SoCalGas. "Renewable natural gas derived from organic sources like animal and plant waste is the next chapter as we look to maximize renewable sources of energy and, clean our air and reduce greenhouse gas emissions."

"RNG is one of the lowest carbon fuel sources available, and drastically cuts health-damaging pollutants like particulates and NOx," said Joanna Underwood, chair of Energy Vision.  "Over its lifecycle, it cuts GHG emissions 80 percent or more compared to diesel, and is actually net-carbon-negative, according to the California Air Resources Board, when made from food waste.  So the more RNG gets made and used, the more it can reduce overall carbon emissions. California has the greatest biogas potential of any state. A recent study by UC Davis estimates that the natural gas needs of around 2.4 million California homes could be fueled with RNG derived from the state's existing organic waste alone.  We estimate California could produce enough RNG to replace 75 percent of its diesel road fuel consumption.  In the workshop, we'll discuss practical ways to get there."

"Arguably one of the greatest steps the state could take to reduce methane emissions from the dairy sector, as well as from landfills and wastewater treatment facilities, is to incentivize or otherwise enable the development of renewable natural gas (RNG) production facilities at each site" said Johannes Escudero, chief executive officer at the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas. "RNG projects capture and convert methane that would otherwise escape fugitively into the atmosphere as a super-pollutant that is many times more potent than carbon, and convert it for a positive end-use, including as a feedstock for renewable electricity or ultra-low carbon transportation fuel."

The conference will include panelists from state agencies discussing their efforts to reduce short-lived climate pollutants and increase renewable energy production. Renewable gas developers —including those producing gas from dairies as well as landfill-diverted organic waste facilities — will share insight into building successful projects. Additional speakers will review the latest technologies that upgrade biogas to biomethane or RNG which meets utility pipeline specifications.

Just like electricity, natural gas can be made from renewable sources. Already, 60 percent of the fuel used in natural gas vehicles in California is renewable, and SoCalGas expects that to increase to 90 percent by 2018. This can help reduce the need for other fossil-based fuels, and increase our supplies with a local renewable fuel.  

Renewable gas project developers, government leadership, local and state agencies, facility operators, equipment vendors, utilities, academia and the media are invited to attend this no-cost workshop, which will take place at Capital Plaza Halls, Grand Ballroom, 1215 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 on Thursday, Oct. 5^th from 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.  

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. 

About Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation, is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric energy companies in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with more than 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation's cleanest energy to nearly 16 million people in Northern and Central California.

PG&E has proudly served northern California communities, families and businesses since 1905 and is committed to become the safest, most reliable, affordable and clean energy company in the country. PG&E is making strategic investments in new technologies and processes, including biomethane and low-carbon gas alternatives, that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Since 1998, the company has reduced its SF6 emissions rate by more than 85 percent and total emissions by more than 70 percent.  

About Energy Vision
Energy Vision is a non-profit organization which researches, analyzes and promotes currently viable technologies and strategies for accomplishing the transition to a sustainable, low-carbon energy and transportation future. Learn more at www.energy-vision.org.

SOURCE Southern California Gas Company

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