Satellite Data Purchase Program
Previous research studies supported by CARB have used a novel class of instruments referred to as ‘methane plume mappers’ onboard planes to identify individual plumes of methane in California. Building on this, CARB plans to procure similar data from satellites to consistently provide this type of data.
Commercial satellite companies are in the early stages of developing and deploying satellites equipped with similar methane plume mapping instruments. The California State Budget Act of 2022 allocated $100 million for the purchase of methane plume data from a commercial satellite company. The California State Budget Act of 2022 also recognized that commercial satellites may collect valuable measurements of other important environmental indicators. This money will be awarded through a competitive request for proposal (RFP) process.
More about this program
The RFP is live
The full request for proposals (RFP) has been released. Bids have been received and are currently being evaluated.