This report presents the development and outcomes of the Mindful Gas Decommissioning project, which created the Gas Distribution System Screening Tool to support strategic and equitable decommissioning of fossil gas distribution pipelines in California. In response to state climate mandates and policies such as Senate Bill 350, Assembly Bill 3232, and Senate Bill 1221, the project addresses the urgent need for informed planning to transition away from fossil fuels while minimizing cost burdens and equity risks for vulnerable communities.
The data-driven tool employs a Geographic Information System-based multi-criteria decision analysis framework to convey information on pipeline conditions, community impacts, and readiness for clean energy alternatives. It integrates technical and demographic geospatial data, enabling decision-makers to screen for and prioritize promising sites for gas asset decommissioning based on safety, equity, and cost-effectiveness. Key results demonstrate that the tool’s Equity Index effectively highlights disadvantaged and underserved communities, to enable decommissioning and community outreach efforts to identify and hone in on areas with the greatest socioeconomic vulnerability, pollution burden, climate risk, and energy inequities.
Extensive stakeholder and community engagement—including workshops, advisory committees, and case studies—shaped the tool’s development and validated its metrics. The project’s knowledge transfer activities facilitated gaining traction with state agencies, utilities, and community organizations.
The tool provides a transparent, replicable framework to support long-term gas planning, aiding California’s decarbonization goals and advancing a just energy transition.
Author(s)
Cici Vu, Valerie Nibler, Mel Amoroso-Pohl, Lorre Rosen – DNV Energy Insights, Inc.; Eric Fournier, Maya Ofek – UCLA California Center for Sustainable Communities
