Ethanol has played a key role in the success of California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) and is poised to make even greater contributions to the state’s climate policy objectives if certain regulatory actions are taken to allow greater market 
access, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) said in comments submitted this week to the California Air Resources Board (CARB).
The LCFS requires fuel suppliers to annually reduce the carbon intensity (CI) of fuels consumed in the state through 2020. CARB is holding a hearing today to consider amendments that would expand the LCFS through 2030 and increase the stringency of the required CI reductions. RFA Executive Vice President Geoff Cooper will provide oral testimony at the hearing.
“As CARB now considers expanding the LCFS through 2030 and ramping up the required fuel carbon intensity reduction to 20% below 2010 levels, we want to express our support for actions that can help facilitate achievement of future LCFS goals by accelerating and maximizing the decarbonization of remaining liquid transportation fuels,” RFA wrote in comments.
CARB data show that ethanol is responsible for reducing GHG emissions by 14.5 million metric tons (CO2-equivalent), or 45% of the total reductions achieved under the LCFS to date, RFA noted in its comments. In addition, data released by CARB yesterday shows that the ethanol used in California has an average CI that is 31% lower than gasoline.
RFA’s comments offered several recommendations that would allow ethanol to make even greater contributions to the LCFS goals, including:
- Expediting approval of new pathway petitions for cellulosic ethanol produced from grain kernel fiber.
- Amending current regulations to allow for the sale of E15 (15% ethanol, 85% gasoline) in California. A recent study by Life Cycle Associates shows that introduction of E15 would significantly increase LCFS credit generation, reduce gasoline consumption, and enhance the near- and long-term sustainability of the program. If California allows the sale of E15 beginning in 2020, the study shows cumulative GHG reductions achieved under the LCFS increase by 15-19 MMT CO2e by 2030, depending on the mix of ethanol sources.
- Revising default lifecycle GHG assessment model assumptions regarding grain sorghum production.
- Beginning a process to consider other options for further decarbonizing the remaining liquid fuels in the California market.
View a copy of RFA’s full comments to CARB here.