On May 23, SoCalGas released their section of Sempra’s 2022 Corporate Sustainability Report highlighting the dedication toward advancing the clean energy transition, environmental benefits, social equity, as well as the safety and well-being of our customers, employees, and the communities they serve. The ASPIRE 2045 sustainability strategy also closely aligns with Sempra’s key sustainability pillars: enabling the energy transition, driving resilient operations, championing people, and achieving world-class safety.
The report highlights the progress SoCalGas has made to accelerate the transition to clean energy, improve local air quality, increase clean energy access and affordability, and advance a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture while achieving world class safety.
“Every Californian deserves a clean, affordable, safe, and resilient energy future and our ASPIRE 2045 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 unveiled the [H2] Innovation Experience that is constructed to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum standards and demonstrates how a renewable hydrogen microgrid can provide a resilient and reliable source of power. 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 heat waves, 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,” stated Senator 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 U.S. to issue green bonds in a public offering. Following Sempra’s Sustainable Financing Framework, SoCalGas raised $600 million in bonds to support specified projects within its sustainability initiatives. The net proceeds from the fixed-rate green bonds will finance and/or refinance sustainability investments in pollution prevention and control, green buildings, and clean transportation.
By JULIE EMERSON – PUBLIC AFFAIRS, SOCALGAS
