Dive Brief: California regulators are considering whether to dismiss an application filed by state utilities that proposes a hydrogen blending demonstration program, as an initial move toward establishing a statewide hydrogen injection standard for the gas system. In a proposed decision that the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) can vote on July 15 at the earliest, regulators raised concerns that the utilities' initial proposal for an estimated $31.8 million demonstration project is unclear on the scope of work, timing and costs, and expressed unwillingness to hand them a "blank check," despite the importance of the research. The decision would, however, leave the door open for the utilities — which include Southern California Gas (SoCalGas) and Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) — to file a new proposal for such a program. "The hydrogen roadmap is in early stages and we will continue to support research and development around the impact of hydrogen-natural gas blends on gas system assets and customer equipment," PG&E spokesperson Melissa Subbotin said in an emailed statement, adding that the utility supports keeping the application open.