SoCalGas connects landfill-based RNG project to pipeline system

Monterey Park, California-based Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) is now accepting renewable natural gas (RNG) produced at WM’s Simi Valley RNG facility into its pipeline system. 

This is the first time the company has interconnected a landfill-based RNG site with its infrastructure. Houston-based WM captures landfill gas from its Simi Valley Landfill, which the RNG facility processes into pipeline-quality RNG and delivers into SoCalGas’ pipeline system.

The RNG can be allocated to fuel consumption for heavy duty compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles or to fuel homes and businesses, SoCalGas says. 

“This is a significant milestone in our journey to expand the use of RNG,” says Jawaad Malik, senior VP of strategy and sustainability at SoCalGas. “By working with WM to bring this project online, we’re supporting operations that capture methane and convert it into renewable fuel—helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions, advance California’s climate goals and deliver reliable energy to our customers.” 

The company says more than $100 million has been invested by WM to construct its Simi Valley RNG facility, which is expected to generate approximately 2.2 million MMBtu (million British thermal units) per year of RNG.  

RELATED: SoCalGas signs RNG procurement contract 

This anticipated RNG production has the potential to avoid up to 100,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually—the equivalent of removing an estimated 2,000 trucks from the road or powering approximately 65,000 homes, SoCalGas says. The 30,000-square-foot plant is one of the largest RNG facilities in the WM portfolio and WM’s first RNG facility in California, according to the company. 

“WM is proud to collaborate with SoCalGas to deliver a renewable fuel source to communities and businesses,” says Tara Hemmer, WM chief sustainability officer. “This new RNG facility is part of WM’s broader commitment to advancing circularity and providing the innovative solutions our customers need to thrive.” 

SoCalGas says these efforts align with its goal to replace 20 percent of its traditional natural gas delivery to core customers with natural gas from renewable sources by 2030. In 2024, RNG made up about 5.5 percent of the gas SoCalGas delivered to its core customers. 

RNG sourced from landfills, dairies and wastewater treatment plants can help lower greenhouse gas emissions and can be used to fuel CNG vehicles, generate electricity and heat buildings. SoCalGas says it has procured RNG since 2019 and delivered it through the pipeline system, which supplies its 26 fueling stations, enabling the displacement of traditional natural gas with renewable alternatives. 

Currently, SoCalGas is receiving RNG from 10 production facilities: eight from dairy clusters and two from green and food waste facilities. The RNG industry is growing rapidly, with 505 facilities operating in North America as of June 2025, according to the RNG Coalition, of which SoCalGas is a member.