Oil and Gas Industry’s Top Lobbying Arm Considers Another Climate Policy

by Maxine Joselow and Vanessa Montalbano (Washington Post) … American Petroleum Institute weighs clean fuel standard after backing carbon tax — The American Petroleum Institute will hold a workshop Thursday on the merits of a clean fuel standard, a policy aimed at slashing carbon emissions from transportation, the nation’s largest source of planet-warming pollution, according to a draft meeting agenda obtained by The Climate 202.

The meeting, which was confirmed by two people familiar with the matter, signals that the oil and gas industry’s top lobbying arm is edging closer to supporting another climate policy after endorsing a tax on carbon emissions in March 2021.

Representatives for automakers, ethanol producers and other industry interests are expected to attend the workshop at a hotel in downtown Washington, according to the two individuals familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly.

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“We will work to propose an outline of a policy concept (and ultimately federal legislation) that can reduce GHG emissions from the transportation sector relatively rapidly and in a cost-effective manner for the end user and society,” the document adds.

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California and Oregon have already implemented a clean fuel standard, which requires fuel suppliers to reduce the carbon intensity of their products, including gasoline and diesel. In May, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) signed legislation to establish a clean fuel standard on Jan. 1, 2023, after suffering several defeats in his years-long quest to enact the policy.

The API meeting marks the second time in a month that the policy has appeared to gain currency in Washington. In September, an initiative representing electric utilities, biofuel producers, environmentalists, electric vehicle charging companies and other interests began calling on the next Congress to pass legislation creating a national clean fuel standard.

Members of the DriveClean initiative, which launched Sept. 19, include the electric vehicle start-up Rivian, the Renewable Fuels Association and the New York League of Conservation Voters. The initiative has hired Lot Sixteen, a bipartisan lobbying and communications firm, to help with outreach. READ MORE

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