Tackling Climate Change One Truck at a Time

Alison Broadfoot, IT OCM & Communications Manager, San Diego Gas & Electric

To meet the evolving challenges of climate change and reach goals for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), utilities are increasingly seeking new ways to collect and analyze data that can help prioritize operational decisions with sustainability in mind. At SDG&E, we understand that climate change can have a disproportionate impact on our most vulnerable communities– those that may already suffer from economic, health, and environmental burdens including air pollution. That is why we are working to address the effects of tailpipe emissions from our fleet vehicles through a new tool called the Community Impact Platform. Our goal with this tool, which is part of our ongoing work to decarbonize our energy system and operations, is to help lead the clean energy transition with climate equity, energy affordability, and reliability top-of-mind.

Recognizing that transportation is the single largest source of GHG emissions in Southern California, we set a goal to convert our entire fleet to zero-emissions vehicles by 2035. With help from the Community Impact Platform, we are approaching this work with a focus on transitioning vehicles in communities most affected by the impacts of climate change first.

“By combining internal and external data with advanced analytics, the Community Impact Platform can recognize patterns, derive insights and provide the context for prioritizing equity across our communities.”

The Community Impact Platform maps data on emissions and routes collected by fleet vehicle sensors. The information informs our decision-making by alerting us to which vehicles pollute most and which neighborhoods are most trafficked by our fleet, allowing us to prioritize investment decisions throughout our service territory. Based on prediction models, the platform calculated that by transitioning to 100 percent ZEVs, SDG&E will cut 30 million lbs. of emissions from vulnerable communities over a period of 15 years—that's like taking 3,000 vehicles off the road for a full year. 

The Community Impact Platform starts with a digital map of our service area. Telematic sensors installed on each fleet vehicle to track their locations over time; these routes are then cleaned and pre-processed with statistical methods to estimate vehicle emissions. This information is then overlaid with socioeconomic data pulled from the census tract to provide community context. The platform quickly generates insights, like GHG emissions by community, and applies optimization algorithms to provide recommendations on fleet changes, such as EV replacements, to most quickly reduce GHG emissions overall and in disadvantaged communities. By combining internal and external data with advanced analytics, the Community Impact Platform can recognize patterns, derive insights and provide the context for prioritizing equity across our communities.

The Community Impact Platform brings transparency and awareness to how SDG&E’s investments in clean energy, climate equity, and reliability can prioritize the right communities at the right time. In addition to fleet decarbonization, SDG&E can use the Community Impact Platform to inform investment decisions around facilities decarbonization, electric vehicle public charging stations, grid modernization, community education, and more.