Sempra Energy’s two utilities announced their commitment Tuesday to helping California accelerate the state’s transition to a more carbon-free environment by using more low-carbon fuels for the utilities’ transportation needs in addition to their already high-profile, state-mandated efforts in boosting renewable energy use and stepped-up energy efficiency programs.

Southern California Gas Co. and San Diego Gas and Electric Co. reiterated their commitments at the Low-Carbon Fuels 2008 conference Tuesday in Sacramento.

The Sempra utilities told state regulators and policymakers at the conference that they were expanding their uses of natural gas and electricity in motor vehicles and heavy equipment employed by the two utilities.

Natural gas and electricity provide a 15-60% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as two of the cleanest commercially available transportation alternatives, according to Hal Snyder, the Sempra utilities’ vice president of customer programs. Fuel prices are very competitive, too, Snyder said, citing $9/MMBtu natural gas as equivalent to $2.65/gallon gasoline.

The California utilities can be “at the front lines” in the battle to reduce GHG emissions levels, Snyder said, and they can do that by helping with education and outreach, and by developing “clean, low-carbon fuels, fueling infrastructure, and conducting demonstration and commercialization programs.”

Sempra officials said that during the past decade the two utilities collectively have saved more than 193 million therms of natural gas and 1.9 million MWh of electricity annually through various energy efficiency programs with savings for customers exceeding $400,000.

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