SACRAMENTO - The Air Resources Board yesterday held the first of two public hearings to consider re-adoption of California’s groundbreaking Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). The LCFS is a greenhouse gas emission reduction regulation designed to help achieve the AB 32 goal of reducing California’s carbon dioxide emissions back to 1990 levels by 2020.  

The proposal strengthens the LCFS regulation adopted in 2009, and is the product of a year-and-a-half long public process. It still requires the carbon intensity of transportation fuels be reduced 10 percent by 2020. But it contains new provisions designed to foster investments in the production of fuels with lower carbon intensity, offer additional flexibility to regulated parties and streamline program operations. A number of businesses that produce innovative low carbon fuels testified in support of the proposal.

“The LCFS continues to play a critical role in California’s transition to cleaner fuels,” said Air Resources Board Executive Officer Richard Corey. “It is fostering investments that benefit California, help to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases as well as toxic pollutants, and provides consumers with more clean fuel choices.”

The Board is scheduled to vote on re-adoption of the regulation later this year after Air Resources Board staff finishes revisions to the proposal.