Sempra Is Fighting Back Californians Who Want Natural Gas Gone

Sempra Energy’s natural gas utility is joining a group fighting against California’s push to eliminate the fuel from every last furnace, boiler and stove.

The organization, Californians for Balanced Energy Solutions, is trying to “rally support” for gas as state policymakers and environmental groups push to phase it out, according to an emailed statement Thursday. Sempra’s Southern California Gas utility is the state’s largest gas distributor. Other members include real estate agents, agriculture groups and labor unions

“There are powerful organizations that are working to take away your right to choose affordable natural and renewable gas,” the group said on its website. “For them, it’s electricity or nothing!”

The move follows the release of a plan last week from environmentalists, local governments and electric utilities — including Edison International’s Southern California Edison Co. — to cut the state’s building emissions by 40 percent by 2030 and adopt zero-emission building codes for homes by 2025. California already has a goal to phase out greenhouse gas emissions by 2045 to combat climate change.