As the nation’s largest natural gas utility, we are well aware of our responsibility to implement sustainable practices and remain a sound environmental steward. And, we gladly embrace this role.
We are proud to serve a region that places a high priority on environmental issues, with a wide array of organizations dedicated to important causes, such as urban greening, beach cleanups and clean air initiatives.
Our Activities in 2022:
Earth Month 2022
In honor of Earth Month, SoCalGas employees volunteered support to Friends of Ballona Wetlands, to help the last coastal wetland in Los Angeles. Employees also, provided a helping hand to the Friends of the Desert Mountains trail improvement project, on the Ed Hastey Garden and Randall Henderson Trails, by pulling weeds, removing/cutting back dead vegetation, painting trail markers and installing plants. To close out the month of service, volunteers spent time working with Chino Hills State Park, to clear out invasive vegetation, so that native plants can thrive.
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SoCal Climate Champions Grant Initiative
In 2022, we awarded $240,000 to five non-profit organizations through the SoCal Climate Champions Grant initiative. The program was designed to encourage and foster clean, safe, and innovative solutions towards a clean energy future. Awards were given for climate solution projects that aimed to reduce, mitigate, and sequester greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, improve air quality, or provide organic waste diversion solutions in the communities SoCalGas serves.
2022 SoCal Climate Champions include:
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LA Compost: Funding helped to develop community composting systems for food scrap collection, compost education, creation and use, especially within LA County neighborhoods most vulnerable to climate change.
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The Ecology Center: Funding provided support toward expansion of their compost operation with the goal of strengthening the growing number of satellite and school farms served.
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Amigos De Los Rios – The Emerald Necklace Group: Funding helped to plant 350 trees & 1000 native shrubs in critical areas along urban river corridors and at two schools. The project engage students, Conservation Corps and community members in transforming segments of urban river from barren areas to places with robust urban forest canopy, multi - use trails, habitat, enhanced air quality and reduced urban heat islands for benefit of adjacent underserved communities.
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Cal Poly Pomona Philanthropic Foundation: Funding supported research and development of low-cost energy storage using repurposed waste produced during desalination. During the desalination process, salt and other minerals are removed from a target substance such as wastewater. This project aims to repurpose the salt collected during desalination and use it as a low-cost energy storage medium.
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San Diego State University Research Foundation: Funding helped the organization’s Farms of the Future project will pave the way toward a deep understanding of the carbon footprint from the agriculture sector in the Imperial Valley.
A complete list of the 2022 grant recipients can be found here.