LOS ANGELES, March 31, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- A study
published today in Environmental Science & Technology
finds methane emissions from U.S. local natural gas
distribution systems, including Southern California Gas Co.'s
(SoCalGas), are 36 to 70 percent lower than current estimates by
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Researchers concluded the reductions were due to infrastructure
modernization and increased investment in leak prevention by
utilities. This included upgrades in metering and regulating
stations, changes in pipeline materials, and better instruments for
detecting pipeline leaks — as well as regulatory changes.
"SoCalGas recognizes the importance of reducing emissions and
these findings validate our long-term efforts to modernize our
infrastructure to enhance safety, safeguard reliability
and reduce emissions," said Bret
Lane, chief operating officer of SoCalGas. "SoCalGas will
continue to work with regulatory agencies, researchers and the
community to prudently invest resources in our system and protect
our environment."
Led by Regents Professor Brian
Lamb in WSU's Laboratory for Atmospheric Research, the study
provides the most comprehensive set of direct measurements of
emissions from the distribution system to date. They estimate that
emissions from the distribution system are between 0.1 and 0.2
percent of the natural gas delivered nationwide. SoCalGas' natural
gas system has among the lowest emissions rates in the country
despite it being the largest.
SoCalGas participated in the study to help increase knowledge
about methane emissions across the country and to better understand
the impact of infrastructure maintenance and modernization
efforts.
SoCalGas' voluntary emissions reduction efforts began more than
two decades ago — well before any mandatory programs, such as
California's Global Warming
Solution Act (AB 32), went into effect — and include:
- More than 800,000 tons of emissions reductions: As an
original member of EPA's Natural Gas STAR program in 1993,
SoCalGas implemented practices resulting in the reduction of more
than 800,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.
- Eliminated cast iron pipe: SoCalGas eliminated all cast
iron pipe from its system more than two decades ago, and
established a comprehensive risk-based approach to replacing pipe
on its system. Cast iron pipe has been identified with significant
leak issues in other regions in the U.S.
- Modernized infrastructure: SoCalGas replaced pre-World
War II transmission pipe, updated its metering and regulating
facilities and modernized its distribution system with plastic
pipe. The company will invest $6
billion to improve the safety, performance and reliability
of its pipeline system over the next four years.
- Leak surveys: SoCalGas regularly monitors emission
levels from transmission, distribution and gas storage facilities
in compliance with federal and state regulations and
requirements.
The study, which was supported by the Environmental Defense
Fund, 13 major natural utilities, including SoCalGas, and
engineering and environmental consulting firms, updates data from
the 1990s. The researchers took direct measurements in multiple
cities from 230 randomly selected, representative underground
pipelines and 229 stations where natural gas is measured and
regulated.
The participating natural gas utilities own and operate 19
percent of the nation's distribution pipeline mileage and account
for 16 percent of the total gas delivered to customers in 2011.
To learn more about the study visit: http://methane.wsu.edu.
About Southern California Gas Co.
Southern California
Gas Co. has been delivering clean, safe and reliable natural gas to
its customers for more than 140 years. It is the nation's largest
natural gas distribution utility, providing service to 21.4 million
consumers connected through 5.9 million meters in more than 500
communities. The company's service territory encompasses
approximately 20,000 square miles throughout central and
Southern California, from
Visalia to the Mexican border.
Southern California Gas Co. is a regulated subsidiary of Sempra
Energy (NYSE: SRE), a Fortune 500 energy services holding company
based in San Diego.
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SOURCE Southern California Gas Co.