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The California Public Utilities Commission this week announced a proposal that could shut down the Aliso Canyon gas storage field within the next few years, but local activists and politicians say the proposal does not include the largest It claims there is no clear enough timeline for closing the gas storage facility site. Natural gas leaks in American history.
Residents of Porter Ranch and the surrounding San Fernando Valley community have been demanding the Southern California Gas Company-owned property be shut down since the leak occurred over a four-month period in late 2015 and early 2016. The disaster resulted in approximately 100,000 tons of gas leaking. More than 8,000 households have been forced to evacuate their homes as methane and other chemicals fly into the air, with many reporting symptoms such as headaches, nosebleeds and nausea.
On Wednesday, the CPUC released a proposed decision regarding the future of Aliso Canyon. The plan, scheduled to be discussed at the commission’s Dec. 19 meeting, would potentially shut down the site if Southern California’s natural gas demand drops to a level where it can meet peak demand without Aliso Canyon. There is a need to move forward.
Demand is expected to continue declining in the coming years as California increases its use of renewable energy sources.
The CPUC is proposing to begin a process to review and potentially close the facility if peak demand forecast for the next two years decreases to 4.121 billion cubic feet per day. Additionally, biennial evaluations show that doing so would not jeopardize natural gas reliability or reasonable rates. The current peak demand forecast is 4.618 billion cubic feet per day, which is expected to decrease to 4.197 billion cubic feet per day in 2030, according to a CPUC information sheet.
SoCalGas spokesman Chris Gilbride said in a statement Friday: “While we continue to review the decision, we are not satisfied with the commission’s view that Aliso Canyon is a necessary part of California’s energy infrastructure today. We’re sharing it.”
Several politicians who represent Porter Ranch and support the closure of Aliso Canyon are frustrated by what they see as a lack of urgency and clarity about when realistically the site’s operations will end. He said he felt it.
“The optimistic part is that there is a path to shut it down,” Rep. Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth) said in a phone interview. “But the skeptical aspect is that there really isn’t a schedule. It’s unknown.”
State Sen. Henry Stern (D-Calabasas) said he wants the CPUC to provide evidence why a phased timeline is in the public’s best interest.
“The onus is on the CPUC to prove to the public that this proposal to extend the life of Aliso Canyon is not just about providing for SoCalGas at the expense of the community,” he said in a statement regarding X. .
Los Angeles County Superintendent Lindsey Horvath said in a statement that the draft decision is “unacceptable” and “fails to prioritize the health and well-being of the communities that bore the brunt of the worst natural gas leak in American history.” said.
“My position has not changed. We need a clear end date and a plan for complete closure,” she said.
That sentiment was echoed by Matt Pakko, president of Save Porter Ranch, an advocacy group that has been fighting to shut down the storage facility since shortly after the leak.
He said the commission is “looking forward” to the proposed biennial evaluation process.
“They are inspecting the facility every two years instead of closing it right away, as residents and our group have requested for years,” Pacucco said.
The company has a contentious relationship with the Porter Ranch community and faced a series of lawsuits in the aftermath of the breach, alleging it knew of problems at the site and failed to address them. Firefighters also filed a lawsuit alleging the company failed to inform firefighters of the extent of their exposure to hazardous chemicals when responding to the leak.
In 2016, SoCalGas pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of failing to promptly report a gas leak and will pay up to $1.8 billion in 2021 to settle claims for more than 35,000 victims. agreed.
Since then, the company has implemented a number of safety improvements at Aliso Canyon as part of various legal settlements and agreements with government agencies.
This includes installing an infrared methane monitoring system, completing safety testing of all 114 wells by the state agency, hiring employees to operate the new leak detection system 24 hours a day, adopting a new reporting policy for hazardous material releases; This includes strengthening employee safety training.
Pacucco said Gov. Gavin Newsom is responsible for the continued use of the gas facility.
“This is not an energy issue, this is a health issue,” Pacucco said.
In 2019, Newsom asked the CPUC to consider accelerating the permanent closure of the facility. But in 2023, his appointees to the CPUC voted 5-0 to allow SoCalGas to store far more fuel on-site to lower gas prices.
Newsom spokesperson Alex Stack said in a 2023 email that the governor is “appreciated.” [Public Utilities Commission’s] He continues to work to maintain affordable and reliable energy for ratepayers and is pushing to expedite work toward permanent facility closures as part of California’s transition away from fossil fuels. We continue to encourage the committee. ”
Rising natural gas costs became a major issue last winter, when SoCalGas announced that the average bill for its 21.8 million customers in January 2023 was about $300, more than double the average in January 2022. It became.
The company blamed the price hike on an unusually cold winter and constraints on pipelines and gas storage facilities. Some accuse the company of mismanaging inventory and increasing exports to Europe to take advantage of high prices resulting from the Russia-Ukraine war.
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