California-based natural gas and electric utility Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) unveiled today a series of new climate commitments, including a target to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2040, and become “climate positive”, removing more greenhouse gases from the environment than it emits, by 2050.

The new targets were unveiled with the release of the company’s Climate Strategy Report, along with a series of 2030 targets to reduce emissions attributable to the company and its clients, including Scope 1, 2, and 3 emission reductions from its operations and energy delivery.

By 2030, PG&E plans to have 70% of its electric power mix consist of renewable resources, including wind and solar. To accelerate electric transportation, it also plans to fuel at least 3 million EVs in its service area, which would lead to the reduction of 58 million metric tons of carbon emissions. Additionally, the company plans to prepare the grid to enable 2 million EVs to participate in vehicle-grid integration applications.

In the same time frame, PG&E also plans to reach 48 million metric tons of lifecycle carbon emissions reductions by focusing on energy efficiency and building electrification. To act on this target, PG&E stated that it will be evaluating all gas capital projects for electrification alternatives and pursue electrification for project deemed feasible and cost-effective.

Additionally, the company expects renewable natural gas to make up 15% of the gas flowing through its pipelines to core residential and commercial customers  by 2030, and is launching a pilot to maximize readiness for hydrogen blending. PG&E is also planning to convert industrial and large commercial customers unable to electrify to cleaner natural gas, reducing cumulative carbon emissions by 2.5 million metric tons.

Building on its 2030 targets, the company will work to achieve net zero by 2040 by eliminating or reducing emissions and then removing the carbon remaining from the atmosphere, with plans to remove more greenhouse gasses than it emits by 2050.

Carla Peterman, PG&E’s Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs, and Chief Sustainability Officer, said: 

“We’re excited about the opportunities to co-create this future together with our many stakeholders. Importantly, PG&E is focused on making this transition in an equitable and viable manner that leaves no one behind. We will continue to look for ways to prioritize support for disadvantaged and vulnerable communities and the workforce in a just transition to net zero and beyond.”

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