Sempra’s California, Texas Utilities Focusing on Decarbonization, Regulatory Boost
Energy infrastructure holding company Sempra Energy wants its California and Texas utilities to achieve net-zero emissions by 2045, but they need some help from technology innovations and regulators, executives said.
A key for California utilities, including Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas), is developing renewable natural gas (RNG) as a decarbonizing tool, CEO Jeff Martin said during a 1Q2021 earnings conference call. SoCalGas is nearing the milestone of 5% RNG in its distribution system.
Martin said Sempra is advocating for the equivalent of a renewable portfolio standard (RPS) to develop RNG. Using RNG in the marine and on-road transportation sectors will earn renewable energy credits for the operators, he said.