SoCalGas Helps Fleet Owners Secure Funds to Transition to Cleaner Technologies

Southern California Gas Co. Tuesday began an annual initiative that assists fleet owners in applying for incentive funding to replace diesel trucks with new near-zero emissions natural gas models.

Through the Carl Moyer Program, about $36 million is available for eligible clean air projects operating within the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s territory. Approved fleet owners can apply through June 1 to receive up to $100,000 toward the purchase of new natural gas trucks and compressed natural gas fueling stations, according to the utility.

The transportation sector is responsible for about 40% of California’s greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and more than 80% of the state’s NOx, or smog-forming, emissions, according to SoCalGas.

Heavy-duty trucks with the latest natural gas engines can cut smog- forming emissions by more than 90% compared to the cleanest heavy-duty diesel trucks on the road Tuesday. When ultra-low emission natural gas trucks are fueled by renewable natural gas, GHG emissions are reduced by at least 80%, according to the utility, which currently operates 15 public RNG fueling stations across its service territory.

According to a 2020 report, RNG use as a transportation fuel in California has increased 210% over the last five years, helping displace more than 4.2 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.

“The transportation sector remains the largest contributor of greenhouse gases in our state,” said Rasha Prince, director of customer energy solutions at SoCalGas. “The Carl Moyer Program plays a key role in California’s strategy to achieve clean air and contributes to the governor’s zero-emission transportation policy which sets new vehicle standards that require for 100% of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles in the state be zero-emission by 2045.”

Since 2018, SoCalGas has assisted customers in securing incentive funding for 409 near-zero emissions heavy-duty trucks and 34 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fueling stations through the Carl Moyer Program, according to the utility. The emissions reductions attained by replacing those diesel trucks is equivalent to taking 48,671 traditional combustion engine cars off the roads, SoCalGas officials said.

Last year, the utility assisted the city of El Monte in securing funding for an RNG fueling station to support its local transit buses, trucks, street sweepers and waste haulers.

The program grant is competitive, which means funds are distributed on a rolling basis until all money is awarded. Fleet owners interested in receiving support from SoCalGas in securing funding through the Carl Moyer Program can send an email to CleanTransportation@semprautilities.com.