Sierra Nevada Cheese Facility Decarbonization
Summary
SCH Number
2025060856
Public Agency
California Energy Commission
Document Title
Sierra Nevada Cheese Facility Decarbonization
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/18/2025
Document Description
Sierra Nevada Cheese (SNC) seeks to implement a waste-to-energy system that cuts greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in its factory's industrial processes. The project will install Biogas Energy anaerobic digesters, a Mainspring Linear Generator, and a Flow CO2 heat pump to capture fugitive methane emissions, generate clean, renewable energy, and improve local air quality. With these environmental and operational improvements, SNC will be able to expand its operations and source more milk from small family farms in the region while creating jobs in the surrounding disadvantaged community. Through this project, Sierra Nevada Cheese will decarbonize its entire industrial process, ranging from heating and pasteurizing milk, to cheesemaking, chilling, and cleaning. SNC's innovation lies in integrating cutting-edge waste-to-energy technologies, energy efficiency measures, and methane capture to become California's first carbon negative industrial facility, cutting 124,375 MTCO2e over the project's lifespan.
Contact Information
Name
Colin Lee
Agency Name
California Energy Commission
Job Title
Commission Agreement Manager
Contact Types
Responsible Agency
Address
Phone
Email
Name
Mardy Thomas
Agency Name
Sierra Nevada Cheese Company Inc.
Job Title
Agreement Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Willows
Counties
Glenn
Regions
Northern California
Zip
95988
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15301 ; Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15304; Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15329
Reasons for Exemption
Glenn County Planning & Community Development Services (lead CEQA agency) supports preparation of a Notice of Exemption (NOE) as the CEQA compliance document, and agreed the project would meet the requirements for an exemption under Section 15301, Existing Facilities, Section 15304, Minor Alterations to Land, and Section 15329, Cogeneration Projects at Existing Facilities of the California Code of Regulations.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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