UC EMISSION REDUCTION RECS ARE CONSUMER-BASED

This market-based proposition is another example of Republican Governor Arnold being way out in front of national Democratic leaders on an energy-and-environment issue, proving that the quality of the leader and the quality of the electorate are co-dependent.

Researchers Suggest Ways to Reduce Fuel Carbon
Jacqueline Johnston, August 6, 2007 (The Daily Californian)
and
California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard Takes Shape
August 3, 2007 (Environment News Service)

WHO
Alex Farrell, director of the UC Berkeley Transportation Sustainability Research Center, and Daniel Sperling, director of the Institute of Transportation Studies at UC Davis

Another Berzerkley protest? Or a damned good idea?

WHAT
A Low Carbon Fuel Standard for California, Parts 1 & 2: In response to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s executive order for transportation fuel emission intensity be reduced 10% by 2020 and request for university assistance in the developing the means to do so, the UC Bekerley and Davis researchers have published their findings and recommendations.

WHEN
- Schwarzenegger’s executive order came in January 2007.
- Report published August 2.
- The Air Resources Board and other agencies are required to produce regulations in 2009 and being implementing by 2010.

WHERE
California.

WHY
- Schwarzenegger’s executive order followed the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, requiring that state total greenhouse gas emissions be reduced 25% by 2020.
- The report recommendations stress a new type of fuel-regulatory proposition, bringing a variety of fuels to market and allowing consumer choices to guide low-emission fuel development. There is already national interest in the innovative concept.
- The study, done by a team of more than 20 researchers, considered 6 scenarios using different technologies. The 2 primary strategies studied involved increased use of low-carbon biofuels and use of electricity. Also studied: a carbon credits market, mass-marketing plug-in hybrid cars, the development hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
- Conclusion: Goals not easily attainable, but attainable.

The pump? Or the plug? The California consumer will decide.


- Emission reductions would be progressive. The role of the state would be in assuring the availability of E85 stations, hydrogen stations and electric charging stations. Consumers might make different choices in different environments and regions. The state must also prevent sensitive farmlands from being converted to biofuel crops.
- Also included: recommendations on petrofuel production emissions control. Fuel producers and businesses would also have access to an emissions credits trading system, from which they might gain double benefits by curbing production emissions and switching their fleets to low carbon vehicles.
- The PUC must balance electricity consumption for transportation against biofuel and fuel cell vehicles.
- Research was independently funded by The Energy Foundation.

QUOTES
- Sperling: “We found that a 10 percent reduction by 2020 is difficult, but doable…”
- Farrell: “This [consumer choice-based low-emission fuel development program] is unique. Nobody has ever done this before. There are no papers, no analyses, nothing…Lots of people around the country are really interested in this…There’s nothing stopping the federal government from implementing something similar to this.”