Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) has begun flowing its first pipeline-ready biomethane into its natural gas transmission system, marking the latest step forward in California’s bid to make renewable natural gas (RNG) less expensive and easier to access.

Deliveries of biomethane through a third-party pipeline began in December from Maas Energy Works’ facility in California’s rural Merced County, which collects methane released from manure at 15 dairy farms.

It was a first in PG&E’s history, and also a sign of further progress for the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) dairy biomethane pilot program that has funded several methane collection projects.

PG&E’s Chris DiGiovanni, Wholesale Marketing and Business Development director, said successful...