California is exploring a rule to mandate reductions in methane emissions from dairy and livestock operations after years of using voluntary grants. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) recently issued a request for feedback to comply with Senate Bill 1383, which requires the state to cut methane emissions 40% from 2013 levels by 2030.
Though regulations for methane from organic waste and landfills have been implemented, dairy and livestock were exempt until 2024. Environmental advocates hope CARB’s initiative will lead to innovative methods for tracking and reducing dairy methane emissions.Comments are due by March 30, but the timeline for rulemaking remains uncertain. CARB is seeking input on tracking emissions, reporting requirements, and feasible mitigation strategies.
“It can lead us to a better solution for the state’s manure problem,” said Phoebe Seaton, co-director of the Leadership Council for Justice and Accountability. The dairy and livestock sectors are responsible for over half of California’s methane, primarily from cow burps and manure. A 2022 CARB report shows that current programs could achieve 5 million metric tons of reductions by 2030, just over half the target.
Most reductions come from California’s funding of anaerobic digesters, which capture methane from manure lagoons. These systems are supported by the state’s Dairy Digester Research and Development Program and the low-carbon fuel standard (LCFS). However, critics argue the LCFS over-credits dairy biogas, encouraging herd expansion and increasing local pollutants.
The LCFS incentivizes low carbon-intensity fuels but controversially gives dairy biogas a negative score. Environmental groups argue this diverts resources from cleaner fuels. Despite calls for change, CARB maintained high-value dairy biogas credits, prompting a resolution for livestock methane regulation.
Regulations must be technologically and economically feasible, and markets for biogas and composting must exist. CARB’s 2022 analysis highlights barriers to digester installation and the need for alternative manure management methods. While feed additives can reduce cow burp emissions, practices like solid-liquid manure separation offer alternatives without incentivizing herd growth.
Seaton emphasizes the need for rules addressing water and air pollution, noting digesters’ limitations. California’s incentive programs favor wet manure systems for cost efficiency, but alternative practices have received less funding. CARB’s report estimates significant costs for meeting the 2030 target using both digesters and alternative methods.
Michael Boccadoro of Dairy Cares supports expanding existing incentive programs, while Tyler Lobdell from Food and Water Watch calls for a shift in resource allocation. Ongoing feedback and regulatory development could reshape California’s climate strategy.
CARB spokesperson Lindsay Buckley stated the staff aims to follow board direction for methane regulation, with rule development anticipated by 2025 and implementation by 2030.
Original Story at insideclimatenews.org