Emissions bills: ‘fart in the wind’

The recent “passing” of Senate Bill 32 and Assembly Bill 197 brought hope to those that feel the eructation and flatulence of California’s dairy cows are the root cause of Green House Gas (GHG) emissions in the Valley.

Many of these same people drive two miles to do 150 calories of exercise, then race to a drive-through and idle for 15 minutes to get a 450-calorie “coffee” drink (with cream) and then wonder why they don’t lose weight.

Ah, the sanctimony of the math addled knows no bounds.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) developed a GHG inventory that indicates agriculture (which includes dairy) and forestry accounts for only 6 percent of the total California GHG emissions. The Environmental Protection Agency found that in the U.S., livestock production (which includes beef, dairy, swine, poultry and sheep) accounted for 4.2 percent (four point two) of GHG emissions, while the U.S. energy sector contributes 31.0 percent and the transportation sector contributes 27.0 percent.

So, walk to the gym and brew some sun tea at home, because getting rid of cows to lower GHG emissions will amount to no more than a fart in the wind.

This story was originally published September 18, 2016 at 5:23 PM with the headline "Emissions bills: ‘fart in the wind’."