{"id":18353,"date":"2018-10-10T11:32:46","date_gmt":"2018-10-10T15:32:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/?p=18353"},"modified":"2018-10-10T11:52:13","modified_gmt":"2018-10-10T15:52:13","slug":"californias-move-to-cut-utility-gas-leaks-is-a-critical-part-of-moving-towards-a-low-carbon-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/2018\/10\/10\/californias-move-to-cut-utility-gas-leaks-is-a-critical-part-of-moving-towards-a-low-carbon-future\/","title":{"rendered":"California\u2019s move to cut utility gas leaks is a critical part of moving towards a low carbon future"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>As shown by the recent special report<\/a> from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, emissions from fossil fuel combustion in California and elsewhere present dire consequences for the planet. This means California, like the rest of the world, must take real steps now to shift toward a low carbon future.<\/p>\n

Similar to many other developed economies, California has a vast oil and gas delivery infrastructure that is integrated into its modern way of life \u2013 a system that supports the combustion of fossil fuels in nearly every corner of society. As a result, making dramatic shifts toward a carbon neutral economy as envisioned in a recent executive order by Governor Brown<\/a> will take a lot of investment. While this investment is underway, it\u2019s appropriate to also make sure the system that delivers energy to homes and businesses is as environmentally benign as possible.<\/p>\n

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On Thursday, the California Public Utilities Commissions is expected to make a major step toward this goal when it officially approves first-of-their-kind leakage reduction plans for the state\u2019s gas utilities and gas storage providers. Through implementation, utilities like Southern California Gas, Pacific Gas and Electric, and San Diego Gas and Electric will cut leakage and venting across the gas delivery systems they own and operate, resulting in a gas infrastructure that is safer for the planet and for customers.<\/p>\n

Development and approval of the gas utility leak plans is the result of a 2014 law, SB 1371, that requires utilities to use best practices to find, fix, and prevent leaks on their systems. The law, and subsequent leak plans, are significant because the main component of gas leakage is methane, a potent greenhouse gas that, in aggregate, is responsible for about 25 percent of man-made warming.<\/p>\n

Emissions estimates for gas leakage in California show utilities release more methane pollution through gas leaks and venting every single year <\/em>than was emitted during the major gas leak at Aliso Canyon that caused the evacuation of tens of thousands of people in Northern Los Angeles for nearly four months between 2015 and 2016. Once these plans are implemented, the state will reduce 16 to 18 percent of its utility methane emissions by 2020, and 40 percent by 2030.<\/p>\n

Reduction of methane from the state\u2019s gas infrastructure is welcome news at a critical time. Although the Trump administration has pulled the federal government back from cutting methane pollution, reducing emissions from oil and gas equipment remains one of the cheapest, fastest, and easiest ways to make a dent in the world\u2019s climate pollution. In fact, the International Energy Agency estimates we can cut the global methane footprint of the oil and gas sector in half at zero net cost simply by implementing existing technologies.<\/p>\n

Among the efforts that will be included in the plans approved by the Commission are changes to policies, operations and equipment used to manage the overall gas system.\u00a0 These changes are required pursuant to 26 individually identified best practices, including:<\/p>\n