-May 6,2020-
The Tulare County Board of Supervisors is in support of SB 1352 (Hueso) which would require California natural gas utilities to procure at least 20 percent of gas for residential and small-to medium-sized businesses from renewable resources. They approved a letter of support this week.
In 2016, Senate Bill 1383 established a statewide goal of reducing methane emissions by 40% below 2013 levels by 2030.
“As roughly 80% of the methane emissions in California come from agricultural or solid waste sources, SB 1352 presents an enormous emissions reduction opportunity. In Tulare County, we understand the importance of responsibly reducing methane emissions due to the dairy production and processing being one of our largest industries and economic driver in the County.
Many of our local dairies are already a part of the USDA Dairy Digester Research and Development Plan. Dairy digesters are a renewable technology that utilizes livestock manure to produce methane, which is then used as a renewable source of electrical energy generation and transportation fuel.
Utility procurement of biomethane has the potential to create in-state jobs and increase in- state economic activity, especially for rural and agricultural regions such as Tulare County. The construction and ongoing operation and maintenance of biomethane facilities will require skilled labor on-site at dairies, wastewater treatment plants, and diverted organic waste facilities. Many of these facilities fall within communities identified as disadvantaged by the state, including those in Tulare County. Our County and the San Joaquin Valley Region will greatly benefit from the increased economic activity associated with biomethane technology.”