Sempra(US:SRE) Prnewswire·2026-02-04 12:55Core Viewpoint - Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) and other gas utilities have petitioned the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to modify a previous decision requiring a demonstration project for blending hydrogen into natural gas, citing advancements in safety and operational data since 2022 [1][2][3]. Group 1: Petition Details - The petition seeks to remove the requirement for a 5% hydrogen demonstration project before recommending a systemwide blending standard, while still adhering to the CPUC's mandate for projects studying blends in the 5%-20% range [2]. - The utilities argue that the safety case for low-level hydrogen blends has improved, allowing for a more efficient approach to decarbonization [2][4]. Group 2: Research and Demonstration Projects - New research and real-world experiences indicate that blending up to 5% hydrogen into natural gas systems can be done safely and reliably without modifying customer appliances [3][5]. - States like Utah and companies like Hawai'i Gas have successfully implemented hydrogen blending, demonstrating its safety and effectiveness over decades [5][6]. Group 3: Industry Perspectives - Industry leaders emphasize that hydrogen blending is a practical step towards decarbonizing the natural gas system, leveraging existing infrastructure to reduce emissions while planning for a cleaner energy future [4][6]. - The blending of hydrogen is seen as essential for achieving sustainability and cost goals in California's energy transition [4][6]. Group 4: SoCalGas Initiatives - SoCalGas has been at the forefront of hydrogen blending initiatives, having completed the first power-to-gas hydrogen blending project in the U.S. in 2016 and several other demonstration projects since then [7]. - The company has proposed two hydrogen blending demonstration projects, one of which aims to blend up to 5% hydrogen, which may be affected by the outcome of the current petition [4][7].