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Tulare County accepts final 2023 dairy greenhouse‑gas report, urges continued state incentives
Summary
After a public hearing, the Board of Supervisors accepted the county''s 2024 final report summarizing 2023 greenhouse‑gas emissions from dairies and feedlots, noting voluntary reductions achieved and calling for continued state and federal incentive funding to reach longer‑term SB 1383 targets.
The Tulare County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday accepted the county''s final report on greenhouse‑gas (GHG) emissions from dairies and feedlots for 2023 and approved a CEQA exemption, after a presentation from county staff and a brief question from a supervisor.
The report, prepared by the Resource Management Agency (RMA) with consultant support, shows cumulative voluntary reductions since 2013 and a mix of projects including digesters, solar, and alternative manure‑management projects. Staff said those voluntary measures reduced emissions by about 857,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent per year by 2023 (about 82% of the county''s 2023 dairy cap target), and that additional projects that began after 2023 increase the estimate to roughly 97% of that goal.
Why it matters: The county''s dairy sector was a primary focus of a stipulated settlement tied to local regulations and the state''s SB 1383 short‑lived climate pollutant goals. County staff told the board that meeting California Air Resources Board (CARB) targets for 2030 will require another roughly 1 million metric tons of reductions and that state and federal incentives are critical to make additional digester and alternative manure‑management projects financially feasible.
Staff presentation and findings
Mike Washam, associate director at RMA, reviewed the report and its background. The county completed the 2024 final report to satisfy the settlement requirements tied to the dairy cap and to incorporate the state SB 1383 final report when available. Washam said CARB had not issued final SB 1383 dairy regulations as of April 2025 and that the settlement ended May 1, 2025.
Key findings in the staff presentation included: - Estimated reductions to date (2013''2023) of roughly 1.885 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent, which staff illustrated as roughly the equivalent of removing about 404,000 passenger vehicles from the road for a year. - Inventory details: 50 operational digesters in 2023 (some later added or placed under construction), 14 alternative manure‑management projects, 80 solar PV projects and other measures. - Financials: digester projects reported combined costs of about $233 million with roughly $78 million in CDFA funding and $155 million in matching funds; alternative manure projects reported about $24 million total cost with $16 million in CDFA funding and $7.5 million in matching funds.
Staff recommendations and next steps
County staff recommended the board accept the 2024 final report, continue monitoring voluntary measures, enforce permitted herd sizes and reporting requirements, track GHG reductions toward the SB 1383 2030 goal, and continue to advocate with CARB and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) for continued incentive funding.
Questions and public comment
Supervisor Dennis Townsend asked whether incentive funding is guaranteed; Washam replied there is no guarantee and that incentives are subject to state budget and policy changes. No members of the public spoke during the hearing.
Board action
Supervisor Pete McCarrie made the motion to accept the report and the CEQA exemption; Supervisor Townsend seconded. The board voted 5''0 in favor; the motion carried and the public hearing was closed.
Ending
County staff said they will continue reporting annually and maintaining the county''s dairy mitigation webpages, and will continue coordinating with state agencies about funding and regulatory developments.
