Pixley Residents for Environmental Justice v. County of Tulare

On December 12, 2024, the Fresno Bee reported that residents of Pixley in Tulare County in California had reached a settlement agreement that required the County to withdraw its approval for an ethanol-to-hydrogen plant. The petition challenging the approval asserted that the County violated the California Environmental Quality Act as well as zoning laws. A County official said the project applicant would have to include a “more robust environmental document” in a reapplication in order to advance the project.

A lawsuit filed in California Superior Court challenged the County of Tulare’s approval of the Golden State Hydrogen Plant. The petitioner alleged that the approval relied on an “erroneous determination” that the project was exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The petitioner’s allegations included that the project could potentially increase greenhouse gas emissions.

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