Renewable natural gas – consisting of processed methane captured from waste streams – is going to soon power a variety of vehicles in our region, helping to clean up the air.
For the first time, six San Diego area fueling stations will start supplying trucks and buses with renewable natural gas (also known as biogas). Through a pilot program, the low-carbon, clean-air fuel will be available at SDG&E’s Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations in Miramar, Kearny Mesa and Carlsbad, as well as at three private stations.
The renewable gas will power our company’s CNG vehicles as well as fleets of public buses, garbage trucks, taxis and other transportation vehicles across the county.
What is Renewable Gas?
Renewable natural gas is produced from the methane generated in landfills, wastewater treatment plants, food processing and dairies. Depending on its source, it can be low-carbon, or in some cases, even carbon-negative. In addition to fueling trucks and buses, it can be used to generate electricity, to heat homes and businesses and to cook.
Capturing the methane from waste sources and using it for fuel has two benefits: It keeps methane, a greenhouse gas, from entering the atmosphere and contributing to climate change, and it reduces the use of traditionally-sourced natural gas.
Renewable natural gas is a valuable tool for reducing pollution associated with California’s transportation sector, which accounts for 41 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) statewide and about 50 percent of GHG emissions in our region. The latest generation of natural gas engines for heavy-duty vehicles can reduce smog-forming emissions by more than 90 percent compared to the cleanest heavy-duty diesel trucks.
To Learn More
Watch this short video to learn more about renewable gas: https://www.socalgas.com/smart-energy/renewable-gas/what-is-renewable-natural-gas