California Launches $100M Methane-Detecting Satellite Network

California has initiated a $100 million satellite project to monitor and reduce methane emissions, leveraging technology to detect methane leaks from sources like landfills and livestock facilities. This initiative is part of Governor Gavin Newsom's response to recent rollbacks of environmental protections by the Trump administration, emphasizing the need for state action to combat climate change. The state plans to deploy up to eight satellites, with the first already launched, to collect real-time data that will aid in targeted mitigation efforts. Newsom stated that the new data will enhance collaborative efforts to protect public health and the environment. The project, funded by California's Cap-and-Trade program, aims to make emissions data publicly accessible to enhance community engagement and transparency. California's air quality regulators highlight methane's potency as a greenhouse gas, being over 80 times more effective than carbon dioxide in the short term for warming the planet.