California Utility to Pay $1.8 Billion to Settle Claims After Gas Leak
Southern California Gas Company agreed to pay $1.8 billion this week to settle a lawsuit filed on behalf of residents of the Aliso Canyon area who were forced from their homes by a 2015 explosion and leak at a natural gas storage facility.
The lawsuit accused the Los Angeles-based utility of a series of safety lapses that resulted in the uncontrolled release of nearly 100,000 tons of methane and other toxic substances into the atmosphere for 118 days.
It was the largest natural gas leak in U.S. history and one that helped propel state lawmakers toward policies that require eventually eliminating fossil fuels from California’s energy supply.
Southern California Gas denied many of the safety and fraud allegations against it but still agreed to enhanced safety protocols. The settlement money will be distributed by an independent, neutral allocator.
“Our goal has always been obtaining justice for the men, women and children who were failed by SoCalGas throughout every turn of this catastrophe,” Brian Panish, attorney for the plaintiffs, said in a statement.
In The News
Health
Voting
Utilities
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — President Joe Biden on Monday asked Congress to intervene and block a railroad strike before next month’s deadline... Read More
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — President Joe Biden on Monday asked Congress to intervene and block a railroad strike before next month’s deadline in the stalled contract talks, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said lawmakers would take up legislation this week to impose the deal that unions agreed to... Read More
A couple of years into the pandemic, Shirley Neville had finally had enough of her shoddy internet service. “It was... Read More
A couple of years into the pandemic, Shirley Neville had finally had enough of her shoddy internet service. “It was just a headache,” said Neville, who lives in a middle-class neighborhood in New Orleans whose residents are almost all Black or Latino. “When I was getting... Read More
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Pacific Gas & Electric pleaded not guilty Thursday to felony involuntary manslaughter charges after a Northern California... Read More
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Pacific Gas & Electric pleaded not guilty Thursday to felony involuntary manslaughter charges after a Northern California fire caused by its electrical transmission lines burned 87 square miles of land and killed four residents. Prosecutors acknowledge criminal charges are unusual against a public... Read More
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration has approved construction of a 416-mile electric transmission cable stretching from southwest Wyoming through Colorado... Read More
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration has approved construction of a 416-mile electric transmission cable stretching from southwest Wyoming through Colorado and on into central Utah. According to the Bureau of Land Management, the so-called Energy Gateway South Transmission line will help integrate up to 2,000 MW... Read More
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Southern California's gigantic water supplier took the unprecedented step Tuesday of requiring about 6 million people... Read More
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Southern California's gigantic water supplier took the unprecedented step Tuesday of requiring about 6 million people to cut their outdoor watering to one day a week as drought continues to plague the state. The board of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern... Read More
Southern California Gas Company agreed to pay $1.8 billion this week to settle a lawsuit filed on behalf of residents... Read More
Southern California Gas Company agreed to pay $1.8 billion this week to settle a lawsuit filed on behalf of residents of the Aliso Canyon area who were forced from their homes by a 2015 explosion and leak at a natural gas storage facility. The lawsuit accused... Read More