NEW YORK, April 16 - Natural gas will still be needed

for electricity generation in California's clean energy

transition, Edison International ( EIX ) chief Pedro Pizarro

said on Tuesday at an industry conference.

Natural gas is the cheapest and most reliable power

generating source in the most populous U.S. state, said Pizarro.

Edison International ( EIX ) is the parent company of electric

utility Southern California Edison.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

The role of natural gas in future power generation has been

under debate by U.S. states racing to dramatically reduce carbon

emissions, primarily by replacing fossil-fired electricity

generation with renewable sources like wind and solar, within

the next two decades.

California has set a goal for its electric grid to reach

carbon neutrality by 2045.

KEY QUOTE

"We see about 40% of the gas that's flowing through the

pipes today still flowing in 2045 and being offset by carbon

capture, carbon sequestration and direct air capture," Pizarro

said at the BNEF Summit in New York.

CONTEXT

Unlike wind and solar, natural gas emissions contribute to

global warming, but the fossil fuel results in fewer carbon

emissions than coal and crude oil.

BY THE NUMBERS

About 40 percent of U.S. electricity is powered by natural

gas.