Environment

SoCalGas Pioneers the Future of Clean Energy with Innovative Grant Program

In an ambitious effort to foster a sustainable future, Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) has set the stage for nonprofit organizations to play a pivotal role in advancing clean energy solutions. The utility, serving a vast area in Southern California, is now offering grants to projects and programs that are at the forefront of championing safe, innovative, and clean energy alternatives.

Championing Clean Energy Through Financial Support

As of LOS ANGELES, May 15, 2024, SoCalGas has publicly revealed the SoCal Climate Champions Grant program—a grant opportunity extending financial support of up to $50,000. This initiative is for nonprofit organizations that devise and execute inventive strategies to diminish, mitigate, or capture greenhouse gas emissions, uplift air quality, or enhance organic waste diversion within the SoCalGas service territory. Since its launch in 2015, this pioneering grant program has awarded over 160 grants, aggregating to nearly $3 million dollars in funding for climate-friendly innovations.

Organizations keen on applying for this grant will be thrilled to know that the application period for the SoCal Climate Champions grant has commenced on April 21 and is slated to conclude on June 21. The candidates will be evaluated through a comprehensive multi-staged judging process, with the successful entities scheduled to receive their grants in October. The array of benefits for grant recipients include:

• A substantial award summing up to $50,000 to finance innovative efforts resonating with the initiative's goals.
• The prestige of being recognized within a community of accomplished nonprofit leaders stretching across diverse programs.
• Opportunities to publicize their stories through the extensive network of the grant program.
• Access to the invaluable resource of SoCalGas volunteers who are ready to lend a helping hand.

Success Stories of Past Grant Recipients

Many organizations have already reaped the benefits of this grant, transforming their vision into impactful actions. Notably, the Orange County Conservation Corps (OCCC) stands as a testament to the program's potential. Their Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) project has made significant strides in managing water runoff and reducing urban flooding across Orange County. This innovative project not only addresses environmental concerns but also includes a workforce education component, providing valuable training and opportunities for the youth within the community.

Katharyn Muniz, the dynamic Chief Executive Officer of OCCC, expressed gratitude for the grant's role in equipping their members to better manage local weather impacts. She highlighted the dual benefits of their GSI project, which simultaneously empowers the community to bolster resilience during droughts and ameliorate the fallout from heavy rains causing urban floods.

Equally inspiring is the achievement of Cal Poly Pomona Foundation, another past grantee who channeled the funds into an innovative low-cost energy storage system. The byproducts of desalination were utilized ingeniously in this venture, contributing to the development of a lab-scale thermal energy storage mechanism. Dr. Reza B. Lakeh, spearheading the project and serving as the Associate Professor and Graduate Program Coordinator in the Mechanical Engineering Department at Cal Poly Pomona, emphasized the crucial role that such energy storage systems will play in future power grids reliant on renewable sources. He envisioned that, on a larger scale, this breakthrough could significantly enhance the availability of clean power and water in California.

ASPIRE 2045: Building a Sustainable Community Vision

The utility's pioneering ASPIRE 2045 Sustainability Strategy envisions investing $50 million into the communities within its service range over the forthcoming five years. Aiming to foster progressive racial and gender diversity within the workplace, SoCalGas boldly steps towards a carbon-neutral future armed with this investment.

The aspirations don't stop there. SoCalGas's mission, encapsulated in its ambitious expression to be the cleanest, safest, and most innovative energy infrastructure company in the United States, also aligns with the target of attaining net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from its operations and delivered energy by 2045. A significant element of this vision includes a plan to replace 20 percent of its conventional natural gas supply to core customers with renewable natural gas (RNG) by 2030, capitalizing on RNG generated from waste byproducts of landfills and wastewater treatment plants.

The Cornerstone of Reliable and Renewable Gas Service

SoCalGas, headquartered in Los Angeles, takes pride in being the preeminent gas distribution utility across the United States. With a responsibility to deliver dependable and increasingly renewable gas service, the utility reaches approximately 21 million consumers sprawling over a vast area of about 24,000 square miles stretching from Central to Southern California.

At the heart of California's clean energy transition, SoCalGas recognizes the vital role its service plays in energy system reliability and the seamless integration of renewable resources. By committing resources to the upkeep of its gas delivery infrastructure and placing emphasis on customer bill affordability, the utility stands as an exemplar of progress within its industry domain.

Commitment to Net-Zero Emissions and Cutting-edge Service

By promulgating its goal to become the cleanest, safest, and most innovative energy infrastructure company in America, SoCalGas takes tangible steps. Such strides include significant investments in the gas delivery infrastructure while simultaneously ensuring customers continue to enjoy affordable services.

For those interested in the nuts and bolts of the application process, additional information can be found by visiting SoCal Climate Champions Grant Application. This site provides a comprehensive guide through the submission process, offering a straightforward path for potential future climate champions.

Empowering Sustainable Connectivity

SoCalGas continues to foster connectivity and accessibility, not only through its services but also via a robust digital presence. Stakeholders and the public alike can engage with the company through socalgas.com/newsroom, or by following SoCalGas on various social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook, further enhancing community engagement and information dissemination.

Looking Ahead: The Role of Forward-Looking Statements

SoCalGas, in its progressive outlook, provides clarity on its forward-looking statements. It's pertinent to cautiously interpret statements made regarding future actions, plans, and results as they inherently bear risks and uncertainties that may cause actual outcomes to differ.

It is essential to consider these forward-looking statements in the context of numerous factors, which could ultimately sway actual results. These include, but are not limited to regulatory decisions, success of operational endeavors, cybersecurity threats, economic conditions, changes in law, weather events, gas storage capacity, and other risks. A detailed discourse on these deliberations can be gleaned from the company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, accessible at www.sec.gov, as well as on Sempra's website, www.sempra.com.

Distinct Entities Under Sempra

It's vital to acknowledge that within the Sempra family, entities such as Sempra Infrastructure, Sempra Infrastructure Partners, Sempra Texas, Sempra Texas Utilities, Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC (Oncor), and Infraestructura Energética Nova, S.A.P.I. de C.V. (IEnova) operate independently from California utilities like San Diego Gas & Electric Company or Southern California Gas Company and are not under the regulatory purview of the CPUC.

In conclusion, with a mission grounded in innovation and sustainable progress, SoCalGas, through its Climate Champions Grant program and other environmental commitments, is charging toward a collaborative clean energy future. As it leads the pathway to a net-zero emissions goal, the utility both empowers and challenges nonprofit organizations to bring forth groundbreaking solutions that could shape the essence of California's—and indeed the nation's—energy landscape.