Southern California Edison nearly 50 percent to 2045 carbon-free energy goal as Edison International invests in progress

In its 2019 Sustainability Report, released this week, Edison International demonstrated progress toward a zero-carbon system of the future, with its largest subsidiary — Southern California Edison (SCE) — providing 48 percent of its energy carbon-free.

For SCE, emissions have also fallen nearly 50 percent since 2005. The company coupled this with Charge Ready Transport, the largest truck and transit charging initiative in the United States, and infrastructure to support more than 200 light-duty vehicle charge ports. SCE has also leaned heavily into storage and advanced its Pathway 2045 plan as a blueprint for affordably combating climate change, with a particular focus on wildfire prevention.

“Sustainability is central to our vision for leading the transformation of the electric power industry, and we’re committed to doing our part to respond to the global challenge of climate change,” Pedro Pizarro, president and CEO of Edison International, said. “While our initial response to COVID-19 has been comprehensive, our long-term sustainability goals underpin the company’s efforts toward a clean energy future and a just and equitable economic recovery.”

At large, Edison International’s utility subsidiary has proposed to invest more than $5 billion each year into the power grid, to build resilience against natural threats. Last year, it also managed the largest automotive clean energy procurement period, working with American Honda Motor Company, Inc. on a deal that includes two long-term virtual power purchase agreements to the tune of 320 megawatts of renewable power capacity. That arrangement will cover more than 60 percent of Honda’s electricity in North America. This was part of a larger 1.85 gigawatts of renewable energy power purchase agreements Edison reached last year.

“Overall, Edison International is deepening our commitment to sustainability as we begin tracking our progress toward long-term, measurable goals,” Drew Murphy, Edison International senior vice president of Strategy and Corporate Development, said. “Among other things, these goals include delivering 100% carbon-free power to customers by 2045 in accordance with California law, expanding infrastructure to support electric vehicles throughout SCE’s service area, and electrifying SCE’s fleet, including all of its light-duty vehicles, by 2030.”