Southern California Gas Co., the largest gas utility in the U.S. known as SoCalGas, on March 23 set a target to achieve net-zero emissions in its operations and delivery of energy by 2045.

The commitment makes SoCalGas the largest gas distribution utility in North America to set a net-zero emissions target, according to a company press release.

“Our mission is to build the cleanest, safest and most innovative energy company in America,” Scott Drury, SoCalGas CEO, said in a statement on March 23. “We will lead the energy transition by providing clean fuels and innovative technologies essential to carbon neutrality for California.”

SoCalGas, a unit of Sempra Energy, serves nearly 22 million residents of California, representing half the state’s population. Its commitment announced March 23 aligns with the Paris Climate Agreement’s recommendations.

“Through collaboration and partnership, California can develop clean energy solutions at scale and serve as a global beacon for energy innovation,” Drury added.

SoCalGas said its net-zero pledge includes scopes 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions, meaning the company is aiming to eliminate not only its own direct emissions, but also those generated by customers’ energy delivered by SoCalGas’ energy infrastructure.

Additionally, SoCalGas also unveiled plans on March 23 to invest in initiatives to decarbonize, diversify and digitalize the business over the next five years to help support achieving its net-zero ambitions. 

Headquartered in Los Angeles, SoCalGas is focused on delivering “affordable, reliable, clean and increasingly renewable” gas service to 21.8 million consumers across 24,000 square miles of Central and Southern California, where more than 90% of residents use natural gas for heating, hot water, cooking, drying clothes or other uses, the company release said.

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