Benefits of Natural Gas

Clean – Natural gas is one of the cleanest fuels available today. It produces up to 65 percent fewer emissions than coal and 25 percent fewer emissions than oil [1]. The use of natural gas has helped Southern Californians reduce greenhouse gas emissions equal to taking more than a half million cars off the road [2]. Efforts continue to promote natural gas efficiency programs and transition fleets of trucks, buses and trains to natural gas.

Safe – Natural gas is used across the U.S. to safely power homes and businesses, and SDG&E has a long track record as one of the country’s safest utilities. SDG&E has been named the most reliable electric utility in the western United States for the 11th straight year and in 2014 was recognized as a “Best in the Nation” utility for its commitment to safety and reliability.

Abundant – Natural gas is one of the most abundant energy sources in North America. The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates the U.S. has nearly 2,500 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves beneath its soil, or enough to meet the nation’s energy needs for the next 100 years [3].

Supports Renewables – Until renewable energy sources such as wind and solar can meet all of our region’s energy needs, we need additional sources of power to bridge the gap during times when renewables aren’t available or don’t meet the needs during peak times when demand is high. Reliable and quick-start natural gas facilities help ensure our region’s energy needs are safely and reliably met.