Clean Fuels Expresses Disappointment in CARB’s LCFS Proposal

JEFFERSON CITY, MO – Clean Fuels Alliance America expressed disappointment in the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) recently proposed amendments to its low carbon fuel standard (LCFS). If adopted, these changes would impose caps on credits for soy- and canola-based biodiesel and renewable diesel, without sufficient scientific evidence to support such limitations.

By restricting credit generation for these low-carbon alternatives, CARB risks unfairly disadvantaging biodiesel and renewable diesel—proven solutions that reduce emissions today while supporting sustainable farming and rural economies. Limiting biodiesel and renewable diesel in favor of technologies that will not be fully scalable for many years, even by CARB’s own projections, threatens both environmental progress and innovation.

Biodiesel and renewable diesel have significantly contributed to California’s emissions reductions. Based on data from CARB, last year more than 3 billion pounds of soybean oil and 1.7 billion pounds of canola oil were used in the state, with biomass-based diesel (BMBD) now accounting for 73% of California’s diesel pool.

“These proposed amendments impose significant restrictions on vegetable oil feedstocks, hindering the ability of clean fuels to effectively decarbonize the heavy-duty transportation sector. Moreover, they introduce stricter standards for these fuels than those applied to others, including petroleum,” said Jeff Earl, Director of State Governmental Affairs at Clean Fuels. “These changes unjustly penalize biodiesel and renewable diesel—low-carbon fuels that provide immediate health benefits for California.”

Clean Fuels will submit comments strongly urging CARB to reconsider these amendments that threaten to reverse progress in emissions reductions and jeopardize the economic viability of renewable fuels.

“We believe that collaboration and sound science are crucial to advancing environmental goals without compromising the livelihoods of those who have committed to sustainable energy and rural communities,” said Donnell Rehagen, CEO at Clean Fuels. “Without a robust scientific foundation, these vegetable oil caps, and additional sustainability requirements threaten to undo the progress of our industry.”

The deadline for public comment is August 27, 2024.

Contact: Heather Buechter, 479-651-7301, hbuechter@cleanfuels.org

ABOUT CLEAN FUELS ALLIANCE AMERICA

Made from an increasingly diverse mix of resources such as recycled cooking oil, soybean oil, and animal fats, the clean fuels industry is a proven, integral part of America’s clean energy future. Clean Fuels Alliance America is the U.S. trade association representing the entire biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel supply chain, including producers, feedstock suppliers and fuel distributors. Clean Fuels receives funding from a broad mix of private companies and associations, including the United Soybean Board and state checkoff organizations.