U.S. Department of Energy Makes Historic Award for a Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub in California

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) today issued the following statement in support of the U.S. Department of Energy's decision to award California up to $1.2 billion for a regional clean hydrogen hub[1]. SoCalGas is a proud partner of the Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES), the statewide public-private partnership and the organizer for California's Department of Energy clean hydrogen hub application:

"The Department of Energy's visionary investment in a California hydrogen hub is a watershed moment for a clean hydrogen economy," said SoCalGas President Maryam Brown. "The DOE's investment demonstrates the essential role that clean hydrogen will play in accelerating California's energy goals, growing California's clean energy workforce, and improving our environment, air quality, and the lives of millions of Californians.

"Working with ARCHES and state policymakers in support of California's clean energy and climate goals is a central focus of SoCalGas. Our company's mission is to build the cleanest, safest, and most innovative energy infrastructure company in America, and SoCalGas' Angeles Link project could deliver clean renewable hydrogen in an amount equivalent to almost 25% of the natural gas SoCalGas delivers today. This could displace a billion gallons of diesel fuel burned annually, allow conversion of natural gas plants, and eliminate nitrous oxide (NO_X) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) in an amount equivalent to taking 3.1 million cars off the road annually."

Background on Angeles Link

Angeles Link would be, as envisioned, the nation's largest clean renewable hydrogen energy pipeline system. Angeles Link could support the addition and integration of more renewable electricity resources like solar and wind to the grid and would significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from electric generation, industrial processes, heavy-duty trucks, and other hard-to-electrify sectors of the Southern and Central California economy. Over time and combined with other clean energy projects, Angeles Link could also help reduce natural gas demand served by the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility, facilitating its ultimate retirement. Angeles Link could also help advance California's and the region's climate and clean air goals while continuing reliable and affordable energy services.

Hydrogen is increasingly recognized as a critical element of successful decarbonization. When coupled with renewable energy, clean hydrogen could help facilitate a globally scalable, resilient, and carbon free energy system.

SoCalGas is working to shape California's 21st century energy system through investments in clean hydrogen, renewable natural gas, fuel cells, and carbon management. For more information about SoCalGas' hydrogen innovation, visit http://socalgas.com/hydrogen.

About SoCalGas
Headquartered in Los Angeles, SoCalGas® is the largest gas distribution utility in the United States. SoCalGas delivers affordable, reliable, and increasingly renewable gas service to over 21 million consumers across 24,000 square miles of Central and Southern California. Gas delivered through the company's pipelines will continue to play a key role in California's clean energy transition—providing electric grid reliability and supporting wind and solar energy deployment. 

SoCalGas' mission is to build the cleanest, safest and most innovative energy infrastructure company in America. In support of that mission, SoCalGas aspires to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in its operations and delivery of energy by 2045 and to replacing 20 percent of its traditional natural gas supply to core customers with renewable natural gas (RNG) by 2030. Renewable natural gas is made from waste created by landfills and wastewater treatment plants. SoCalGas is also committed to investing in its gas delivery infrastructure while keeping bills affordable for customers. SoCalGas is a subsidiary of Sempra (NYSE: SRE), an energy infrastructure company based in San Diego.