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• California is the first dairy region in the world to set a goal for a 40% reduction of methane emissions from dairy manure. Due mainly to the development of digesters, the state's dairy farms are currently on track to meet that goal.  

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• California is home to 14 “clusters” of dairy digesters in various stages of development. Clusters are groups of digesters that share a centralized gas clean-up facility, where the captured dairy biogas is upgraded and then injected into natural gas pipeline. See the map. Additionally, another 63 California dairy farms have or share access to digesters (operating or in development) that are not a part of a cluster.

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• In total, California has 243 dairy digester projects, capturing methane from 271 dairy farms, and creating either renewable electricity, renewable natural gas, or hydrogen fuel. 168 of the digesters are currently in operation, with the rest in development.

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• California's dairy digester program is responsible for achieving 20% of GHG reductions from all climate programs invested in by the state with just 1.5% of total funds awarded. (143 of the state's digester projects have received funding from the DDRDP.)

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• California’s dairy digesters show tremendous potential to not only decrease greenhouse gases, but also reduce other air emissions and improve overall air quality. A recently published study concluded that  digesters do not harm public health or worsen air quality for disadvantaged communities.

 

• One cow can produce enough transportation fuel to drive a car across the country. Five cows can power a house for a year.​​​

 

• Dairy digesters are providing the largest greenhouse gas reduction of all investments in California’s climate action portfolio.​

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• California's digester grant program is among the most cost-effective programs, providing one ton of GHG reduction (CO2e) for every $9 invested by the state.​​​​​

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(Updated May 2025)​​