CARB Re-Adopts State’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard

by Ann Bailey (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The California Air Resources Board has re-adopted a Low Carbon Fuel Standard requiring a 10 percent reduction in the carbon intensity of transportation fuels by 2020.

“Unlike the EPA, California's Air Resources Board has consistently supported renewable fuels. The CARB’s modifications to the LCFS will strengthen the program,” said Lyle Schlyer president of California ethanol plant Calgren Renewable Fuels and Kansas ethanol plant Pratt Energy LLC, in an email to Ethanol Producer Magazine. “The LCFS may be imperfect (our industry is right to criticize its treatment of indirect land use change), but overall CARB stands as a beacon of light in an otherwise somewhat desolate regulator landscape.

“As a fuel ethanol producer, I admire CARB's conviction and I fully support their efforts to strengthen renewable fuels,” Schlyer said.

The LCFS is the pillar which supports the state’s efforts to combat climate change, according to an Air Resources Board news release. Meanwhile, the LCFS also delivers more clean fuels for California residents and reduces emissions of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants, a CARB press release said.

Biodiesel is at the top of the list, notably corn oil biodiesel, when it comes to efficient ways to cut carbon, said the National Biodiesel Board.

In an effort to address the court’s ruling and to strengthen the program, the LCFS re-adopted the LCFS after public testimony. Modifications included in the re-adopted version of the LCFS includes streamlining the application process for alternative fuel producers seeking a carbon intensity score.

The CARB also adopted a regulation governing alternative fuels. Beginning in 2016, there will be a three-step process to create a path to cleaner diesel substitutes into the market. The regulation also puts into place requirements and fuel specifications for biodiesel to ensure the emissions of nitrogen oxides from biodiesel use won’t increase and be reduced over time. Biodiesel and other alternative diesel fuels can help producers achieve their targets under the LCFS. READ MORE and MORE / MORE includes VIDEO (California Air Resources Board)

Excerpt from California Air Resources Board: The LCFS is an important tool in California’s efforts to reduce the impacts of climate change by spurring innovation in an array of cleaner fuels. The program requires that transportation fuels used in California meet a baseline target for carbon intensity. That target is reduced each year. If a product is above the annual carbon intensity target, the fuel incurs deficits. If a product is below that target, the fuel generates credits which may be used later for compliance, or sold to other producers who have deficits. So far, fuel producers are over-complying with the regulation.

The readopted version of the LCFS includes a number of modifications developed with stakeholder input. These include:

The Board today also adopted a regulation governing alternative diesel fuels (ADF). The regulation puts in place a three-step process beginning in 2016 to create a path to bring cleaner diesel substitutes into the market. This regulation also establishes requirements and fuel specifications for biodiesel to ensure the emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from biodiesel use will not increase, and will be reduced over time. Biodiesel and other ADFs can help producers achieve their target under the LCFS. READ MORE