California proposes regulations implementing Low Carbon Fuel Standard for transportation fuels
At its upcoming April 23-24 hearings, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) will consider adoption of recently proposed regulations for implementing a Low Carbon Fuel Standard pursuant to an Executive Order signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2007. The proposed regulations, part of the implementation of the California Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32) would require a 10 percent reduction in transportation fuel emissions by 2020, which would be accomplished by requiring regulated parties to incrementally reduce the carbon intensity of fuels sold in California. CARB predicts this will require 20 percent of fuel currently used statewide to be replaced with alternative energy sources (e.g. biofuels, electricity, and hydrogen). CARB Chairwoman Mary Nichols described the proposed rule as a “comprehensive, cradle-to-grave approach” for spurring competition and innovation in the alternative energy market.
A 45-day public comment period began following the March 5 proposal announcement. Thus far, the proposal has encountered criticism from various groups, including retired members of the United States armed forces and intelligence community, farmers, and the corn ethanol industry. Much of the criticism relates to CARB’s recommendations to factor greenhouse gas emissions from “indirect land use change” into life-cycle calculations of biofuel carbon intensity. Such calculations are based on the premise that greater demand for food crops, such as corn, increases worldwide prices and causes greater deforestation in order to clear more cropland.
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