SoCalGas Joins California State University, Los Angeles to Help Develop Hydrogen Industry Workforce
SoCalGas Joins California State University, Los Angeles to Help Develop the Emerging Hydrogen Industry Workforce in Southern California
Nov. 7, 2024
Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) and California State University, Los Angeles (Cal State LA) have teamed up to offer development and training opportunities for the emerging and existing workforce in the hydrogen industry through the Hydrogen Education for a Decarbonized Global Economy (H2EDGE) initiative. SoCalGas selected Cal State LA to become one of 20 affiliated universities participating in the H2EDGE program, representing the only paired participants from California.
H2EDGE, created by EPRI and supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO), establishes a foundation that aims to develop a strong hydrogen workforce and further advance hydrogen technologies and uses. The program provides instruction through short courses, online workshops, professional development activities, and networking opportunities.
As part of the H2EDGE program, mentoring student-led projects will be instrumental. Mentorship is a key component of Cal State LA’s and SoCalGas’ relationship as SoCalGas engineers mentored Cal State LA students to develop a modern HVAC system for SoCalGas’ [H2] Innovation Experience. The students simulated various conditions and scenarios, including modeling a hydrogen blend-powered home in different environments, such as the desert or mountains, to test how geography would impact the HVAC system.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with Cal State LA on the H2EDGE initiative, which is pivotal in helping to shape the future of the hydrogen industry workforce in the region,” said Neil Navin, senior vice president of engineering and major projects and chief clean fuels officer at SoCalGas. “This collaboration underscores our commitment to advancing hydrogen technologies and fostering educational opportunities that can drive innovation and sustainability. By working together, we are not only preparing the next generation of engineers but also working to help California reach its decarbonization goals. We look forward to the impactful contributions that Cal State LA students will bring to the H2EDGE program and the broader hydrogen economy.”
The H2EDGE initiative has seen a significant increase in student participation. Cal State LA houses the Hydrogen Research and Fueling Facility (HRFF), the nation’s largest hydrogen fueling facility on a university campus for fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).
“Cal State LA has been involved in hydrogen research and workforce development for almost two decades through its innovative curriculum and student internships at its HRFF,” said David Blekhman, professor of technology and technical director of Cal State LA’s HRFF. “I want to thank SoCalGas for its ongoing support of our hydrogen training programs. We look forward to contributing to H2EDGE and SoCalGas’ workforce development initiatives as we explore the future of the hydrogen economy and workforce.”
Together renewable electricity and clean renewable hydrogen can help facilitate a scalable, resilient, and decarbonized energy system in California while creating new jobs. SoCalGas is working to help shape California’s 21st-century energy system through investments in clean renewable hydrogen, renewable natural gas, fuel cells, and carbon management.
SoCalGas’ workforce development program aims to achieve social impact in diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace and community. In addition to its collaboration with Cal State LA and participation in the H2EDGE program, SoCalGas invests in 46 workforce development programs throughout its service territory.
Learn more about SoCalGas’ hydrogen initiatives at www.socalgas.com/sustainability/hydrogen.
Learn more about Cal State LA’s HRFF at www.calstatela.edu/ecst/h2station.
About SoCalGas
SoCalGas is the largest gas distribution utility in the United States serving approximately 21 million consumers across approximately 24,000 square miles of Central and Southern California. SoCalGas' mission is to build the cleanest, safest, and most innovative energy infrastructure company in America. SoCalGas aims to deliver affordable, reliable, and increasingly renewable gas service through its pipelines to help advance California's clean energy transition by supporting energy system reliability and resiliency and enabling the integration of renewable resources. SoCalGas is a recognized leader in its industry and community, as demonstrated by being named one of Reuters' Top 100 Innovators Leading the Global Energy Transition and Corporate Member of the Year by the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. SoCalGas is a subsidiary of Sempra (NYSE: SRE), a leading North American energy infrastructure company. For more information, visit SoCalGas.com/newsroom or connect with SoCalGas on social media @SoCalGas.
This news blog contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions about the future, involve risks and uncertainties, and are not guarantees. Future results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement. These forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of this news blog. We assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
In this news blog, forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "believe," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," "contemplate," "plan," "estimate," "project," "forecast," "envision," "should," "could," "would," "will," "confident," "may," "can," "potential," "possible," "proposed," "in process," "construct," "develop," "opportunity," "preliminary," "initiative," "target," "outlook," "optimistic," "poised," "positioned," "maintain," "continue," "progress," "advance," "goal," "aim," "commit," or similar expressions, or when we discuss our guidance, priorities, strategy, goals, vision, mission, opportunities, projections, intentions or expectations.
Factors, among others, that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement include: decisions, audits, investigations, inquiries, regulations, denials or revocations of permits, consents, approvals or other authorizations, renewals of franchises, and other actions, including the failure to honor contracts and commitments, by the (i) California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Internal Revenue Service and other regulatory bodies and (ii) U.S. and states, counties, cities and other jurisdictions therein where we do business; the success of business development efforts and construction projects, including risks related to (i) completing construction projects or other transactions on schedule and budget, (ii) realizing anticipated benefits from any of these efforts if completed, (iii) obtaining third-party consents and approvals and (iv) third parties honoring their contracts and commitments; macroeconomic trends or other factors that could change our capital expenditure plans and their potential impact on rate base or other growth; litigation, arbitration and other proceedings, and changes (i) to laws and regulations, including those related to tax and trade policy and (ii) due to the results of elections; cybersecurity threats, including by state and state-sponsored actors, of ransomware or other attacks on our systems or the systems of third parties with which we conduct business, including the energy grid or other energy infrastructure; the availability, uses, sufficiency, and cost of capital resources and our ability to borrow money on favorable terms and meet our obligations, including due to (i) actions by credit rating agencies to downgrade our credit ratings or place those ratings on negative outlook, (ii) instability in the capital markets, or (iii) fluctuating interest rates and inflation; the impact on affordability of our customer rates and our cost of capital and on our ability to pass through higher costs to customers due to (i) volatility in inflation, interest rates and commodity prices and (ii) the cost of meeting the demand for lower carbon and reliable energy in California; the impact of climate policies, laws, rules, regulations, trends and required disclosures, including actions to reduce or eliminate reliance on natural gas, increased uncertainty in the political or regulatory environment for California natural gas distribution companies, the risk of nonrecovery for stranded assets, and uncertainty related to emerging technologies; weather, natural disasters, pandemics, accidents, equipment failures, explosions, terrorism, information system outages or other events, such as work stoppages, that disrupt our operations, damage our facilities or systems, cause the release of harmful materials or fires or subject us to liability for damages, fines and penalties, some of which may not be recoverable through regulatory mechanisms or insurance or may impact our ability to obtain satisfactory levels of affordable insurance; the availability of natural gas and natural gas storage capacity, including disruptions caused by failures in the pipeline system or limitations on the injection and withdrawal of natural gas from storage facilities; and other uncertainties, some of which are difficult to predict and beyond our control.
These risks and uncertainties are further discussed in the reports that the company has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These reports are available through the EDGAR system free-of-charge on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov, and on Sempra's website, www.sempra.com. Investors should not rely unduly on any forward-looking statements.
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) are not the same companies as the California utilities, San Diego Gas & Electric Company or Southern California Gas Company, and Sempra Infrastructure, Sempra Infrastructure Partners, Sempra Texas, Sempra Texas Utilities, Oncor and IEnova are not regulated by the CPUC.