The Budweiser brewery in Fairfield – already slated for closure – now faces $2.3 million in fines over alleged air quality violations, the Bay Area Air District announced Monday.
According to officials, the facility produced elevated levels of hydrogen sulfide in biogas used in its boilers. When burned, hydrogen sulfide can convert into sulfur dioxide, a harmful pollutant that contributes to poor air quality and poses risks to public health.
Regulators also allege the company improperly installed monitoring equipment, failed to submit required reports, operated equipment without proper permits, and did not comply with conditions outlined in its permit applications.
“Protecting the health of Bay Area communities depends on facilities following air quality rules and operating responsibly,” said Air District Executive Officer Philip Fine. “This action holds Anheuser-Busch accountable for its violations and reinforces the importance of compliance for all facilities operating in our region.”
The enforcement action comes months after Anheuser-Busch announced in December 2025 that it would close three breweries nationwide, including the Fairfield location.
Company officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
More garbage from the state.
100% Payback – same deal the CDTFA do from folks who leave the State; they send tax bills up to 7 years after they left!
Also – don’t know how yet, but I’m 87% sure that Diane Becton is responsible for part of this. Something about COVID mandates or equity. When can we vote her out of office? Remember, she was the only DA who was publically agaisnt harsher punishments for criminals in the last election cycle.
Tired,
.
She should be up for reelection this year. Hopefully, she’ll be on the ballot. Two of our Contra Costa County Supervisors don’t have anybody running against them, so their was talk of them not even appearing on the ballot in order to save money.
Definitely payback but don’t worry our elected leaders will find a way to trickle this lost income down on our shoulders like they always do. I don’t blame Budweiser at all, with all the laws and regulations bogging a business down in California what would any sane business leader do? They don’t owe anyone anything and when the jobs are gone and the tax revenue dries up who do you think suffers? But yet we talk about dumb things like diversity or reparations which will do nothing more than to separate the people which is the plan! Hope the horsie throws up it’s middle hoof on the way out!
“…did not comply with conditions outlined in its permit applications” so the Bay Area Air District allowed them to pollute by not checking to see if they were in compliance until now? I think we, the people, should sue the Bay Area Air District for not doing their job.
Last grasp at squeezing money from them before they leave “because you squeezed too hard already”
Hard to run after you shoot yourself in the foot.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/EJI7zHqEVF0
Another case of Big Biz fleeing from greedy government.
Everyone involved will be sadder, Bud weiser.
The company can meet its needs with the existing breweries. Fairfield was on the cuspo of needing a multi-million dollar rehab. What was happening there can easily be handled by the brewery in Van Nuys.
Not worried about the company but I’m sure the layed off employees don’t agree with you and the tax revenue loss is huge for the economy but screw those big corps right!?!
I’ll go with “payback“,
.
“Mayor Moy blamed California’s politics for the closure.
“Fairfield and other Solano cities have lost major businesses because
California is a hostile business environment,” the mayor said.
“A one-party super majority is like a dictator. Benicia is losing a refinery,
we lost Copart, a huge company, and now Budweiser. If we don’t change
course, our beautiful state will sink further.”
https://tinyurl.com/y2jsvwyp
.
After $32,374,711.64 was spent to con voters into passing Prop 64,
which explosively increased illegal sales and illegal POT grow
operations, alcohol consumption dropped off. Another factor
is state’s miserably high cost of living, greatly reducing discretionary
income
.
As to monitoring equipment install, from experience I WILL say it ain’t
easiest thing to do. Decades ago had a candid conversation with person
doing a site visit, not from air district. Jest of conversation, it’s not if
there’ll be a violation it’s how large the fine is going to be. Another
site visit was to verify a “large spill” had taken place. Group showed
up unannounced demanding entry, only to find “spill” was an
accumulation of rain water. They all piled back into vehicles, without
so much as an apology and left.
.
Fine, is another red flag warning to companies NOT to open facilities
in California or to quit state. Reinforcing the already widely held belief
this state is anti business.
.
Wonder what pet projects, “fine” will perpetuate ? ? ? ?
If you don’t conduct business ethically, there are consequences. They should be held accountable, and they have no one to blame but themselves. They should go after them whether they’re closing or not.
So what is the fine for California then under your logic!?! California hardly conducts it’s business ethically or fairly…let’s fine California into oblivion and hold it’s crappy governance accountable.
Another large Bay Area Employer gets “California’d” and before they manage to get out the
door, they get hijacked and fleeced to boot, by the nice folks running the 9-Bay Area Counties.
—
Now, tell us how these particular Million$$$ fines will be used to directly care for the citizens. Pay
their medical bills, etc … 😏. I’m running out of ‘A’s” to LMAO… but here’s another reminder!
____
Q: You wonder why these people fight like dogs to get elected to a city council or county board?
Because: The 9-Counties, multiple city councils, CHOOSE who, among themselves, is worthy
of being appointed each year to BAAQMD and ABAG Councils and advisory committees..
~~~Start here~~:
1) The County Supv’s ‘currently’ make Base pay approx $13,500.00 PER MONTH (whether
this is their full-time job or not.)
2) Concord City Council ” Base pay approx $1,900.00 PER MONTH (usually it’s their side
gig) & — they ALL get ‘boosted’ for extra travel, expenses, etc.
3) Then– they also ‘take a knee’ to snag a ‘volunteer’ seat on BAAQMD and ABAG and various ‘budget’ advisory committees of each organization —
DECIDING ~~ how & where to disburse & disperse their multi-million dollar budgets made
from things like –you got it- FINES and PENALTIES imposed on the companies that
employ our neighbors and us —>
4)…AND deciding who they will share their huge booty-budget & give & receive “Grants” “bonuses” “goodies” and “PERKS” ~All and Anything that might just benefit them & theirs
in the long run.
5) THEIR DECISION of how much in other ‘goodies & “boosted pay perks” they give to
County Judges to increase the pay the judges get from the State! Some might call those
$$$ perks BRIBERY.~~But no, BAAQMD & ABAG advisors, State Regulators and the **
JUDGES themselves call those $$ pay perks…
perfectly LEGAL.
~~Here’s the kicker answer to the original ☝question~~
6) Because the County Sup’s own salary is based on 65% of the Judges’ bottom line pay-
The County is VERY GENEROUS with the “booster-perk” $$$ they slide across the table
to the judges…
while we and/or our neighbors go down to the UN-Employment office.
~~~
NOW YOU SEE the 9-COUNTY ABAG & BAAQ & theft District’s PATTERN & PURPOSE !
And did I mention: Based on recent judicial appointments and vacancy data as of early 2026, there are approximately 250 to 300+ superior court judges across the 9 San Francisco Bay Area counties who may receive supplemental pay or benefits (perks) from their local county governments, in addition to their state-mandated salary.
It’s all a joke to them and we the tax payers are the pigs at a pig party…