At Sea-Tac Airport, Where Emissions Are Rising, Gov. Inslee Pitches Low-Carbon Fuel Standard

January 13, 2020

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by Evan Bush (Seattle Times) Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Friday promoted a statewide low-carbon fuel standard during a visit at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, saying the policy would increase access to biofuels for the aviation industry, a portion of the economy that’s particularly challenging for reducing greenhouse gases.

Aviation fuels are exempt from the proposed statewide policy, but airline fuel suppliers could opt into the program and earn credits, and potentially money, from the program.

Inslee thinks the policy’s financial incentives would push fuel suppliers to develop supply chains for biofuel.

“It’s the fastest way to get biofuels in the aerospace industry,” Inslee said, adding that it would also be incentive for the airport to “scale up” biofuel infrastructure.

The fuel standard sits atop the governor’s climate change policy agenda this legislative session, but the measure has stalled several times before in the Legislature and faces some skepticism in the Senate, including from at least one influential Democrat.

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How would the low-carbon fuel standard work?

The policy would assign a carbon-intensity score for transportation fuels and set requirements for those scores, which would become more stringent over time.

Fuel producers and importers receive credits for fuel that produces less greenhouse gases than the requirement, and deficits for fuels that emit more. To stay in compliance with the law, fuel suppliers could buy or trade credits with others. Like aviation fuel, fuels for military vehicles, railroad and boats would also be exempt from the law.

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The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, which regulates air quality in the state’s most populated region, has proposed its own fuel standard for King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties.

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Opponents warn that costs would be passed to consumers and that the measure could cause harm to the state’s economy.

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The analysis says gasoline in 10 years could cost $0.22-$0.57 more per gallon than it would otherwise in a worst-case scenario and assuming refiners kept current profit margins.

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Port of Seattle commissioners in 2017 approved a measure to create goals for sustainable fuel. By 2028, 10% of jet fuel at Sea-Tac Aiport should be “produced locally from sustainable sources,” the motion says. That number jumps to 25% by 2035. Thirteen airlines in May 2018 agreed to work with the Port on sustainable fuels. The Port has studied where it could source and store aviation biofuels. READ MORE

Alaska Airlines endorses Low Carbon Fuel Standard (Biofuels Digest)

Public comment period extended on Clean Fuel Standard for Puget Sound (Biofuels Digest)

Alaska Airlines promotes sustainable aviation fuels in US state of Washington (Biofuels International)

Inslee urges Washington legislature to adopt Clean Fuel Standard (Ethanol Producer Magazine)

Farmers see pitfalls in low-carbon fuel mandate (Capital Press)

Alaska Airlines applauded for endorsing Low Carbon Fuel Standard in Washington State (Biofuels International)

excerpt from Biofuels Digest: The Sustainable Aviation Fuels Producers Group, the Biotechnology Innovation Organization and the Low Carbon Fuels Coalition issued the following statement commending Alaska Airlines’ support for including sustainable aviation fuels on an opt-in basis in Washington’s proposed Clean Fuels Program:

“Alaska Airlines’ support of Washington’s low carbon fuel legislation signals that transportation companies who look to the future are embracing renewable fuel policy. Alaska is the dominant carrier at the rapidly expanding Sea-Tac Airport and has been at the forefront of utilizing sustainable aviation fuel to lower carbon emissions. Standing with Governor Inslee, Climate Solutions, the American Lung Association, and the Auto Alliance, the aviation industry is working to decarbonize the skies.”

As well as ushering in a new generation of sustainable aviation fuels, biotechnology is generating green breakthroughs in all modes of transportation. The SAF Producer Group is made up of the world’s leading producers and developers of sustainable aviation fuels, including Fulcrum, Gevo, Neste, Red Rock, Velocys and World Energy.

In November 2019, BIO and the LCFC announced a joint initiative to drive adoption of renewable fuel policies in states, such as the legislation introduced by Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon.

The transportation sector leads all others in greenhouse gas emissions and clean fuel programs are a proven driver in decarbonizing transportation.

Since implementing its comparable low carbon fuel standard in 2011, California has prevented over 50 million tons of carbon pollution from being emitted. The state’s program has also increased the clean fuels market by $2.8 billion, benefiting largely rural communities where the feedstocks are grown, and biofuels are produced.

For more information about the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, visit BIO.org. For more information on the Low Carbon Fuels Coalition, visit lcfcoalition.com. READ MORE