California has always been an incredible place to call home, and since moving to San Diego to start medical school, I’ve come to appreciate it even more. The beaches, the food, and — most importantly — the people make this city special. One of those people is Dr. Vi Nguyen, whose dedication to her patients and the impact of climate change on public health has been truly inspiring.
As a student working with her, I learned about a concerning proposal from California’s gas companies — including San Diego Gas & Electric. SDG&E recently submitted a plan to the California Public Utilities Commission to mix hydrogen into existing gas pipelines. The initial test site is near UC Irvine’s recreation center, with pipes running beneath daycare facilities, and future experiments are planned for UC San Diego’s campus. Unsure what hydrogen blending meant, I started researching — and what I found was alarming.
The U.S. Department of Energy has outlined that hydrogen is a promising fuel source for decarbonization. However, because it burns at an extremely high temperature, its primary use is in heavy-duty transportation and industrial settings. The published guideline does not blending hydrogen for residential or commercial buildings. Furthermore, only 4% of hydrogen gas currently comes from renewable sources — the rest comes from burning fossil fuels. Southern California Gas Co. is selling this as a “clean” energy solution, but I see it as a way to extend the company’s business.
Safety is a major concern. Hydrogen is readily absorbed into metals, making pipes brittle and more prone to leaks. A U.K. study found that switching to hydrogen increases the likelihood of a gas explosion fourfold. San Diego’s infrastructure is not built for hydrogen blending, meaning potential leaks and explosions are a real risk in our own communities. With SDG&E involved in this pilot, how long before this experiment expands into residential neighborhoods? For those within the UC Irvine community, the proposed experiment is located not only near a recreation area popular among students and faculty but also close to daycare centers with young children.
Health risks are another issue. Burning hydrogen-methane blends releases more nitrogen oxides than burning methane alone, increasing indoor and outdoor air pollution. Nitrogen oxides exposure increases the risk of asthma and respiratory infections. This is the last thing anyone wants in the air — especially when attempting to stay healthy and exercising in a gym. It is also worth mentioning that UC Irvine istration already rejected a similar 2023 pilot project in dorms and cafeterias due to health and safety concerns. Those same risks also affect today’s staff, maintenance workers and students.
San Diego communities already struggle due to poor air quality. Areas near major highways and industrial zones are the most affected. Adding hydrogen blending to the mix could make pollution worse, impacting vulnerable populations here in our city.
Then there’s the economic cost. The gas companies’ proposal claims they’ll use existing infrastructure, but they fail to mention that many home appliances would require costly modification or face increased risks with continued use. In the long run, if hydrogen blending were implemented statewide, gas companies would need to build new pipeline infrastructure. It is estimated that decarbonization with hydrogen compared to electrification would cost an additional $20 billion. For San Diego residents already dealing with some of the highest energy costs in the country, this could mean even higher utility bills.
Gas companies fear electrification will make them obsolete, so they are investing in anything that might keep them in business. We must scrutinize these proposals carefully to protect our safety, health, and finances. The California Public Utilities Commission is currently reviewing the proposal, and we can take action. Submit a comment on the UC website (click “Add a Public Comment”) and fill out a form in climateactioncampaign.org to receive updates and action alerts on the gas/hydrogen proposal. Additionally, we should demand transparency from SDG&E and our local officials about how this experiment could affect our city.
Keep the conversation going with everyone in your community so we can continue enjoying all that makes this area so great!
Kuehn is a student at UC San Diego School of Medicine and lives in La Jolla.
