Students Learn About Financial Literacy and Energy Efficiency Through SoCalGas' Junior Achievement Storefront that Showcases Clean Energy's Future

The storefront is modeled after SoCalGas' [H2] Innovation Experience and equips the next generation of leaders with knowledge of clean energy

LOS ANGELES, March 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) today unveiled its newly revamped storefront at Junior Achievement of SoCal's (JASoCal) JA Finance Park, an interactive educational space of business storefronts that provides students with lessons on financial literacy. Located just outside Griffith Park, JA Finance Park hosts more than 15,000 visitors including students and volunteers each year. Drawing inspiration from SoCalGas' H2 Innovation Experience ([H2]IE) in Downey, Calif., SoCalGas' storefront provides practical experiences in personal finance, sustainability and career exploration in STEM fields. The utility has collaborated with the organization for over 23 years and has contributed more than $300,000 to help foster leadership skills in the next generation.

"This educational space is more than just an exhibit; it's a foundation for empowering young minds with practical life skills and a deeper understanding of energy efficiency," said Paul Goldstein, Vice President of Gas Transmission and Storage at SoCalGas and JASoCal Board Member. "SoCalGas employee volunteers help bring real-world financial and energy-efficient scenarios to life for students through a hands-on approach, nurturing future leaders by equipping them with vital skills. We're committed to inspiring a new generation to lead in sustainable energy through education and practical experiences."

The storefront features mock scenarios that enhance students' abilities to budget, manage expenses and make informed financial decisions. The space also emphasizes the importance of energy use in financial planning, teaching students about the benefits of energy-efficient practices and SoCalGas' customer assistance programs. By understanding how energy efficiency leads to savings, they gain practical insights into maintaining affordable living costs. Additional resources focus on advancements in energy technology with displays, like smart thermostats and energy-efficient appliances, designed to inspire interest in STEM careers.

"We're honored to continue our partnership with SoCalGas and thrilled to unveil their updated storefront at JA Finance Park," said Dr. Les McCabe, President & CEO of JASoCal. "The storefronts are crucial to the immersive experience for students who are learning essential financial skills, like bill paying, but just as importantly, having a modern storefront that addresses the future of renewable energy and reflects energy-saving innovations in a home, will empower thousands of students each year to make responsible financial and environmental choices."

The storefront was remodeled to mirror the design of SoCalGas' [H2]IE, a clean hydrogen microgrid demonstration project that draws power from solar panels during the day and converts excess renewable energy into clean hydrogen to power the home at night. The [H2]IE could power up to 100 homes and highlights how microgrid technology can produce power locally and help create more sustainable communities. The project has been named a World-Changing Idea by Fast Company and was also awarded the U.S. Green Building Council of L.A.'s Sustainable Innovation Award.

As part of SoCalGas' ASPIRE 2045 sustainability goals, the utility aims to invest $50 million across five years to help drive positive change in diverse and underserved communities. By providing resources for higher education and career development, SoCalGas aspires to empower the communities it serves and help prepare young leaders for success. In line with these efforts, SoCalGas has awarded more than $3.5 million in scholarships to students through its scholarship programs since 2001.

To learn more about SoCalGas' Scholarship Programs, click here. For more on JA Finance Park, visit Junior Achievement of SoCal's website.

Media assets can be found here.

About SoCalGas

Headquartered in Los Angeles, SoCalGas is the largest gas distribution utility in the United States. SoCalGas aims to deliver affordable, reliable, and increasingly renewable gas service to approximately 21 million consumers across approximately 24,000 square miles of Central and Southern California. We believe gas delivered through our pipelines plays a key role in California's clean energy transition by supporting energy system reliability and resiliency and enabling integration of renewable resources. 

SoCalGas' mission is to build the cleanest, safest and most innovative energy infrastructure company in America. In support of that mission, SoCalGas aspires to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in its operations and delivery of energy by 2045 and to replace 20 percent of its traditional natural gas supply to core customers with renewable natural gas (RNG) by 2030. RNG can be made from waste created by landfills and wastewater treatment plants. SoCalGas is also investing in its gas delivery infrastructure while working to keep bills affordable for customers. SoCalGas is a subsidiary of Sempra (NYSE: SRE), an energy infrastructure company based in San Diego. 

For more information visit socalgas.com/newsroom or connect with SoCalGas on X (formerly Twitter) (@SoCalGas), Instagram (@SoCalGas) and Facebook.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions about the future, involve risks and uncertainties, and are not guarantees. Future results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement. These forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of this press release. We assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. 

In this press release, forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "believe," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," "contemplate," "plan," "estimate," "project," "forecast," "envision," "should," "could," "would," "will," "confident," "may," "can," "potential," "possible," "proposed," "in process," "construct," "develop," "opportunity," "preliminary," "initiative," "target," "outlook," "optimistic," "poised," "maintain," "continue," "progress," "advance," "goal," "aim," "commit," or similar expressions, or when we discuss our guidance, priorities, strategy, goals, vision, mission, opportunities, projections, intentions or expectations. 

Factors, among others, that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement include: decisions, investigations, inquiries, regulations, denials or revocations of permits, consents, approvals or other authorizations, renewals of franchises, and other actions, including the failure to honor contracts and commitments, by the (i) California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Internal Revenue Service and other regulatory bodies and (ii) U.S. and states, counties, cities and other jurisdictions therein where we do business; the success of business development efforts and construction projects, including risks related to (i) completing construction projects or other transactions on schedule and budget, (ii) realizing anticipated benefits from any of these efforts if completed, (iii) obtaining third-party consents and approvals, and (iv) third parties honoring their contracts and commitments; macroeconomic trends or other factors that could change our capital expenditure plans and their potential impact on rate base or other growth; litigation, arbitrations and other proceedings, and changes to laws and regulations, including those related to tax and trade policy; cybersecurity threats, including by state and state-sponsored actors, of ransomware or other attacks on our systems or the systems of third parties with which we conduct business, including the energy grid or other energy infrastructure; the availability, uses, sufficiency, and cost of capital resources and our ability to borrow money on favorable terms and meet our obligations, including due to (i) actions by credit rating agencies to downgrade our credit ratings or place those ratings on negative outlook, (ii) instability in the capital markets, or (iii) rising interest rates and inflation; the impact on affordability of our customer rates and our cost of capital and on our ability to pass through higher costs to customers due to (i) volatility in inflation, interest rates and commodity prices and (ii) the cost of meeting the demand for lower carbon and reliable energy in California; the impact of climate and sustainability policies, laws, rules, regulations, disclosures and trends, including actions to reduce or eliminate reliance on natural gas, increased uncertainty in the political or regulatory environment for California natural gas distribution companies, the risk of nonrecovery for stranded assets, and uncertainty related to relevant emerging and early-stage technologies; weather, natural disasters, pandemics, accidents, equipment failures, explosions, terrorism, information system outages or other events, such as work stoppages, that disrupt our operations, damage our facilities or systems, cause the release of harmful materials or fires or subject us to liability for damages, fines and penalties, some of which may not be recoverable through regulatory mechanisms or insurance or may impact our ability to obtain satisfactory levels of affordable insurance; the availability of natural gas and natural gas storage capacity, including disruptions caused by failures in the pipeline system or limitations on the withdrawal of natural gas from storage facilities; and other uncertainties, some of which are difficult to predict and beyond our control. 

These risks and uncertainties are further discussed in the reports that the company has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These reports are available through the EDGAR system free-of-charge on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov, and on Sempra's website, www.sempra.com. Investors should not rely unduly on any forward-looking statements. 

Sempra Infrastructure, Sempra Infrastructure Partners, Sempra Texas, Sempra Texas Utilities, Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC (Oncor) and Infraestructura Energética Nova, S.A.P.I. de C.V. (IEnova) are not the same companies as the California utilities, San Diego Gas & Electric Company or Southern California Gas Company, and Sempra Infrastructure, Sempra Infrastructure Partners, Sempra Texas, Sempra Texas Utilities, Oncor and IEnova are not regulated by the CPUC. 

SOURCE Southern California Gas Company