Dairy Manure Methane Capture, California Bioenergy

Another First
Just outside Bakersfield, in Kern County, sits the ClimateSmart program's first dairy methane capture project. Once verified, it will become one of the first Climate Action Reserve livestock methane management projects in California and will result in 75,000 metric tons of verifiable greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions. These emissions reductions will be used by the ClimateSmart program to help make its participants' energy use carbon neutral.

New Reduction Opportunities
The project will process manure from the dairy through an anaerobic digester that traps the methane gas produced as the manure decomposes. With methane being a GHG many times more potent than carbon dioxide, this project will help open up new opportunities for GHG emission reductions. PG&E is proud to be working with California Bioenergy on this project. California Bioenergy is striving to be the partner of choice for dairy farms as they seek to take action in reducing GHG emissions in a way that can create economic value for the agricultural community and create jobs in the region.

For more information about California Bioenergy, please visit www.calbioenergy.com or read the press release: PG&E's ClimateSmart™ Program Makes Landmark Purchase of Dairy Farm Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions to Help Fight Climate Change (PDF, 191 KB)

"This contract with California Bioenergy demonstrates one more way PG&E's ClimateSmart program is helping its customers take action on climate change by encouraging the development of independently verifiable projects that generate measurable results."
- Peter Miller, Senior Scientist, Natural Resources Defense Council

"California Bioenergy is bringing a promising new technology to the San Joaquin Valley that enables high-efficiency generation of electricity from dairy biogas while reducing criteria pollutants to protect air quality in the valley. The technology appears to be very well developed. In addition, California Bioenergy's professional approach to owning and operating digester power plants makes them a strong partner for dairymen, who can stay focused on their farm operations while CalBio brings their expertise in power generation and air quality."
- Dave Warner, Director of Permit Services, San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District

"The ClimateSmart program continues to provide its participants with GHG emissions reductions that represent the highest standard of transparency and accuracy. By contracting to retire offsets from livestock projects, it is recognizing the important role agriculture can play in helping reduce global warming pollution. PG&E's leadership and creativity is to be commended, and its ClimateSmart program is a model for others to follow."
- Gary Gero, President, Climate Action Reserve

"In California, the dairies are plentiful, the technology is here and public-private partnerships can make it work. We commend the Climate Smart program and partners like Pacific Gas & Electric for their commitment to cut global warming emissions, air pollution and dependence on fossil fuels – while supporting California farmers."
- Ashley Boren, Executive Director, Sustainable Conservation