Podcasts about low carbon fuel standard

Danny Cullenward, vice chair of California’s Independent Emissions Market Advisory Committee, explores the legal and policy challenges that threaten the future of the state’s carbon cap-and-trade market. --- For more than a decade, California’s cap-and-trade program has been a key component of the state’s broader efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve a net-zero carbon economy by 2045. Yet the future of California’s cap-and-trade program is uncertain. The program is currently authorized only through 2030, and significant debate exists over whether its administrator, the California Air Resources Board, has the legal authority to extend it beyond that date. Danny Cullenward, a senior fellow with the Kleinman Center and vice chair of California’s Independent Emissions Market Advisory Committee, explores the political and legal questions surrounding the program’s future. He also explains how uncertainty about the program’s longevity could slow investments in clean infrastructure and limit the market’s effectiveness in driving down the state’s climate emissions. Danny Cullenward is a senior fellow with the Kleinman Center, and the vice chair of California’s Independent Emissions Market Advisory Committee. Related Content California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard https://kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu/research/publications/californias-low-carbon-fuel-standard/ Has Europe’s Emissions Trading Scheme Taken Away a Country’s Ability to Reduce Emissions? https://kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu/research/publications/has-europes-emissions-trading-scheme-taken-away-a-countrys-ability-to-reduce-emissions/ Energy Policy Now is produced by The Kleinman Center for Energy Policy at the University of Pennsylvania. For all things energy policy, visit kleinmanenergy.upenn.eduSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aubrey Johnson, head of transmission planning for Midwest electrical grid operator MISO, explains the $22 billion effort to expand and modernize the grid for clean energy and reliability. --- Last year, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, issued its landmark Order number 1920, with the goal of spurring the development of long distance electricity transmission lines in the United States. The order came in response to a challenging reality: the U.S. will need dramatically more transmission to accommodate growing electricity demand and an expanding fleet of clean energy resources. Despite this need, very little regional transmission development has, in fact, taken place over the past decade. Yet there has been at least one place where grid planning has aggressively moved forward. The Midcontinent Independent System Operator, or MISO, is the electric grid operator for the midwestern U.S. and part of Canada. In December, MISO approved $22 billion dollars' worth of new transmission projects as the latest step in its ongoing effort to build a clean and reliable grid of the future. One of the leaders of that effort is Aubrey Johnson, vice president of system planning and competitive transmission at MISO. He discusses the need behind MISO’s grid expansion efforts and the unique set of challenges involved in getting more than a dozen states, each with their own unique energy policy agendas, to lend their support to these projects. Johnson also explains the range of benefits that the new powerlines will offer and challenges that could lie ahead as the lines move from the planning stage to construction. Aubrey Johnson is vice president of system planning and competitive transmission at the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO). Related Content: California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard https://kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu/research/publications/californias-low-carbon-fuel-standard/ Cooling People, Not Spaces: Surmounting the Risks of Air-Conditioning Over-Reliance https://kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu/research/publications/cooling-people-not-spaces-surmounting-the-risks-of-air-conditioning-over-reliance/ Energy Policy Now is produced by The Kleinman Center for Energy Policy at the University of Pennsylvania. For all things energy policy, visit kleinmanenergy.upenn.eduSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Catherine spoke with Liane Randolph, Chair of the California Air Resources Board (CARB). They discussed how CARB has reduced carbon intensity by 30% through the Low Carbon Fuel Standard under Randolph's leadership, as well as about California's environmental justice initiatives & its global collaborations to reduce emissions. Chair Randolph also spoke about CARB's partnership with Airlines for America to boost sustainable aviation fuel availability to 200 million gallons by 2035, covering 40% of intrastate travel demand. She also spoke about the critical role of EVs in reducing emissions & CARB's close collaborations with EV infrastructure leaders like ChargePoint, EVgo, Blink Charging, Volta Charging, & Electrify America to accelerate the state's zero-emission future. Shoutout to WRISE for providing the opportunity at the WRISE Leadership Forum in D.C. to speak with Chair Randolph.If you're a clean energy employer & need help scaling your workforce efficiently with top tier staff, contact Catherine McLean, CEO & Founder of Dylan Green, directly on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3odzxQr. If you're looking for your next role in clean energy, take a look at our industry-leading clients' latest job openings: bit.ly/dg_jobs. 

Have questions, feedback, or thoughts on the show? We want to hear from you! Click on this link to send us a text message. What if the future of renewable energy could lie in the hands of agriculture? In this captivating conversation, host Jim Lenz, sits down with Eric McAfee, the visionary CEO of Aemetis. McAfee shares groundbreaking insights into sustainable and innovative renewable fuel solutions that benefit communities and restore our environment. You'll learn how Aemetis is pioneering carbon-negative biofuel solutions and harnessing the power of agricultural resources, emphasizing the dual use of corn for both food and fuel. From California's largest ethanol plant to innovative operations in India, Eric takes us on a journey exploring the strategic roles of biofuels in global energy independence.  Curious about the role of government policy in renewable energy investments? This episode dives deep into the transformative potential of the 45Z tax credit within the biofuels and agriculture industries. Discover the economic and environmental advantages of supporting local agriculture through policies like California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard and the innovative use of dairy methane. Our discussion uncovers the importance of tax credits, the nuances of their transferability, and the exciting potential for renewable fuel markets in reducing carbon footprints and enhancing energy efficiency.  Explore the opportunities within the ethanol industry as it embraces low-carbon practices and innovative technologies. We highlight the potential of integrating low-carbon feedstocks and the critical role of grain elevators in promoting sustainable farming. Eric shares his vision for the future, detailing the promising paths for those passionate about agriculture and energy—and how these efforts are reversing climate change. Get ready to be inspired by the strides being made in the renewable energy sector and the exciting horizons that lie ahead.This episode dives deep into the transformative potential of the 45Z tax credit within the biofuels and agriculture industries, as explained by Eric McAfee. We explore how renewable practices can create significant economic opportunities while contributing to sustainability efforts and enhancing energy independence.  Highlights • Overview of the 45Z tax credit and its significance • Insights on the role of Aemetis and renewable energy investments • The intersection of biofuels, agriculture, and sustainability • Impacts of dairy digesters on renewable energy landscapes • The importance of unified advocacy within the grain-biofuels community • Future prospects for energy independence and agriculture integration • Calls for action to promote supportive policies for renewable energyLink(s)·      https://www.aemetis.com Grain Elevator and Processing Society champions, connects and serves the global grain industry and its members. Be sure to visit GEAPS' website to learn how you can grow your network, support your personal professional development, and advance your career. Thank you for listening to another episode of GEAPS' Whole Grain podcast.

This week, our guest is Michael Berends, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of ClearBlue Markets.  ClearBlue Markets helps clients harness carbon markets to meet their climate objectives.  Here are some questions Peter and Jackie asked Michael: What is the overall sentiment toward carbon markets, especially after the Trump Administration's retreat from ESG initiatives? Are recent recommendations for new quality standards improving trust in voluntary carbon credits? Will COP29's global carbon market mechanism endorsement encourage more international trading? Why are Alberta TIER carbon market offsets discounted by 50%, and why do California LCFS and BC credit markets also have low prices? What are your expectations for Canadian Clean Fuel Regulation (CFR) credit prices, and could the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) repeal the regulation if elected? Why does Canada have 11 carbon markets? Can industrial emitters trade carbon offsets in Ontario? Content referenced in this podcast:ICE has two futures markets for Alberta Carbon Credits: Alberta Emission Offset and Alberta Emission Performance CreditsPlease review our disclaimer at: https://www.arcenergyinstitute.com/disclaimer/ Check us out on social media: X (Twitter): @arcenergyinstLinkedIn: @ARC Energy Research Institute Subscribe to ARC Energy Ideas PodcastApple PodcastsAmazon MusicSpotify 

President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to cut support for clean power. Two guests from Bloomberg NEF weigh the likely impacts on clean energy development. --- President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to reduce federal support for clean power as soon as he takes office in January. Yet political realities may limit the extent to which incentives, such as those in the Inflation Reduction Act, may be rolled back, leaving open the possibility that the incoming president may seek surgical rather than sweeping cuts. A more fundamental question nevertheless remains: How much would reducing federal support for clean energy actually slow its growth in the U.S.? On the podcast, two experts on clean power markets and policy explore the likely scope, and practical impacts of Trump’s stated energy positions. Meredith Annex is an energy economist and Head of Clean Power at Bloomberg NEF. Derrick Flakoll is Bloomberg’s Policy Expert for the US and Canada. The two analyze the incoming administration’s plans for clean power manufacturing, project development, and trade policy. They also share their insights on how these policies might unfold and what they could mean for the future pace of clean power growth in the United States. Meredith Annex is Head of Clean Power at Bloomberg NEF. Derrick Flakoll is Bloomberg NEFs Policy Expert for the US and Canada. Related Content Closing the Climate Finance Gap: A Proposal for a New Green Investment Protocol https://kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu/research/publications/closing-the-climate-finance-gap-a-proposal-for-a-new-green-investment-protocol/ California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard https://kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu/research/publications/californias-low-carbon-fuel-standard/ Energy Policy Now is produced by The Kleinman Center for Energy Policy at the University of Pennsylvania. For all things energy policy, visit kleinmanenergy.upenn.eduSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All the links you need https://linktr.ee/TheMikeyPodcast Get ready for a raw, uncensored dive into CARB – California's own “Cash Assault Redistribution Bureau.” Today, Mikey breaks down the reality behind CARB's Low Carbon Fuel Standard, exposing how these unelected bureaucrats are pushing up fuel prices and making it even harder for working-class Californians. Hold onto your wallets and tune in as Mikey rips into CARB's twisted priorities, questioning if it's about clean air or just more cash. Support independent media and join the fight against CARB's nonsense on this unapologetic episode of The Mikey Podcast! Show Notes/Highlights: Who Is CARB? – Unmasking the California Air Resources Board, the unelected power players. LCFS: Low Carbon Fuel Standard – How CARB's environmental policy is actually driving up gas prices. Impact on Californians – Why working-class people are paying the price for CARB's green fantasies. Insane Policies – From impossible biofuel standards to capping hydrogen fuel incentives. What You Can Do – How to fight back, hold CARB accountable, and support independent voices. Join the Sub Club – Stay informed, support the show, and help stick it to the elites at MikeyPodcast.com. #TheMikeyPodcast #CARBE #GasPrices #California #Politics #IndependentMedia #LCFS #QuestionEverything #SubClub #GreenEnergy #Sacramento #Podcast

In our first-ever bilingual episode, we talk to Preeti Jain, Head of Net Zero Transition Program at the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Jain provides an in-depth look at the challenges and opportunities in scaling up sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to help aviation achieve its goal of net zero emissions by 2050. The interview is presented in two parts: English followed by Hindi. Jain discusses the current SAF landscape, highlighting the stark mismatch between demand and supply. Emphasising the need for greater SAF production, she estimates that a 1000-fold increase is required by 2050, amounting to roughly 300 new SAF plants each year. This rapid scale-up, however, is hindered by several challenges: inconsistent policy support, high capital costs and under-developed feedstock supply chains.IATA's strategy for overcoming these challenges involves a multi-pronged approach focusing on feedstocks, technology development, policy support, and collaboration across stakeholders. Jain emphasises the need for policies that encourage SAF production and adoption, and commends the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act and California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard as good examples. She sees potential in leveraging existing refinery infrastructure for SAF production, and expects SAF's cost to decline over time as more facilities are deployed and technologies mature.Jain also discusses the potential for SAF to deliver benefits beyond emissions reductions, such as improved energy security and rural economic development, particularly in emerging economies with large agricultural sectors. She also emphasises the critical role of collaboration across the aviation industry, governments, and civil society to build a thriving SAF ecosystem.If you LOVED this episode you'll also love the conversation we had with IATA's SVP Sustainability & Chief Economist Marie Owens Thomsen. Check it out here.Learn more about the innovators who are navigating the industry's challenges to make sustainable aviation a reality, in our new book ‘Sustainability in the Air'. Click here to learn more.Feel free to reach out via email to podcast@simpliflying.com. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It's about time.Links & More:Our Commitment to Fly Net Zero by 2050 - IATA SAF Offtake Agreements - ICAO  SAF Deployment - IATA  Net Zero Roadmaps - IATA Domestic air passenger traffic likely touched 15.4 crore in 2023-24: Report - The Economic TimesHow IATA envisions merging economics and sustainability in aviation - SimpliFlying 

This week our guest is Doug Hooper, Director of Policy and Regulations at Advanced Biofuels Canada. Advanced Biofuels Canada is an industry association that promotes the production and use of biofuels and renewable synthetic fuels. One of the topics covered in the podcast is Canada's Clean Fuels Regulation (CFR). The policy is nearing its first anniversary after coming into effect on July 1, 2023 (Canada Day). The rule requires Canadian refiners and fuel importers to reduce the carbon intensity of the gasoline and diesel sold by about 2% annually between 2023 and 2030.  By 2030, under the rule, Canada's average gasoline and diesel fuel will be 15% less carbon intensive.  Biofuels will be a major compliance source for the new rule; emissions reductions are also expected in upstream oil and gas (for domestically consumed oil) and alternative transportation fuels, such as hydrogen and electricity.The conversation considered Canadian competitiveness with the United States for liquid biofuel production. Doug explained how the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 put a chill on investing in biofuel production facilities in Canada. The recent Canadian Federal Budget 2024 introduced some new measures to help close the gap, but will this be enough? Research referenced in this podcast:  The annual report from Navius Research called “Biofuels in Canada 2023”  Please review our disclaimer at: https://www.arcenergyinstitute.com/disclaimer/   Check us out on social media:  X (Twitter): @arcenergyinst LinkedIn: @ARC Energy Research Institute  Subscribe to ARC Energy Ideas Podcast Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Amazon Music Spotify  

During his time at the California Air Resources Board, Floyd Vergara oversaw key climate change and air quality programs, including the Low Carbon Fuel Standard. Vergara, Senior Advisor to Clean Fuels, sits down with Jeff Earl, Director of State Governmental Affairs, to discuss the LCFS framework building demand for clean fuels.For more information, visit Clean Fuels Alliance America. To suggest topics or guests for a future episode, email us at podcasts@CleanFuels.org.

Courtney Hall, senior director of sustainability with CHS, defines low-carbon fuels and describes how state standards could affect adoption.

Courtney Hall, senior director of sustainability with CHS, defines low-carbon fuels and describes how state standards could affect adoption.

Dirt to Dinner welcomes Colin Murphy, Deputy Director of the Policy Institute for Energy, Environment, and the Economy, and co-director of the ITS-Davis Low Carbon Fuel Policy Research Initiative. He helps guide research and outreach on issues relating to transportation, energy, air quality, and carbon markets, with a primary focus on sustainable fuel policies like California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard. His work bridges the gap between cutting-edge academic science, and the day-to-day challenges of real-world policy making.   Prior to joining the Policy Institute, Colin was a Science Policy Fellow with the California Council on Science and Technology, and an advocate for sustainable transportation and energy policy with the NextGen Policy Center, where he helped extend California's climate programs through 2030. He has a B.S. in Biological Systems Engineering from UC Davis, a M.S. in Science, Technology and Public Policy from the Rochester Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. in Transportation Technology and Policy from UC Davis.

Cohosts Seamus, Taylor, and Nick read listener email. 6:44 https://on.soundcloud.com/5aGsc Into The Blue: A company redesigns cities for biking as part of making them like "Blue Zones," the places where people live longest. With Dan Burden, Director of Inspiration and Innovation, Blue Zones LLC. 26:34 https://on.soundcloud.com/T4Qqm Kindermoord, American Style: A ribbon cutting at an unprotected bike lane on a busy street prompts LA Streetsblogger Liz Schiller to ask, "Why do we love our cars more than our children?" With Bike Talk cohost Taylor Nichols. https://la.streetsblog.org/2023/08/15/why-do-we-love-cars-more-than-we-love-our-children 37:24 https://on.soundcloud.com/fmvmr Scooters V. Climate Change: A Lime executive discusses micromobility's inclusion in California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard program. Calvin Thigpen, Director of Policy Research at Lime, with Bike Talk cohost Seamus Garrity.

Every community across the globe produces waste. This waste can come from landfills, decomposing food, animal manure, and wastewater sludge. As this waste decomposes, it emits natural gas – primarily composed of methane, which is a naturally occurring but very potent and harmful greenhouse gas. In fact, methane is nearly 30 times more potent at trapping heat in our atmosphere than carbon dioxide. Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) projects capture this methane before it harms our environment and repurposes it to create clean and reliable energy that is used to generate electricity, power our vehicles, heat our homes, cook our food, and many other productive purposes. In this episode, Chad and Gil speak with Michael Bakas, Executive Vice President at Ameresco, a leading cleantech integrator specializing in energy efficiency and renewable energy. Michael details the various RNG production pathways and revenue streams, discusses his views on RNG market growth drivers, and makes a compelling case for the essential role of RNG in the energy transition. Links: Michael Bakas Bio Ameresco White Paper: Making Your Organization Carbon Neutral with Renewable Natural GasAmeresco White Paper: Beyond Hydrogen: Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) & Deep DecarbonizationAmeresco Case Study: BMW Landfill Gas to Energy, SCRNG CoalitionEpisode recorded May 4, 2023Email your feedback to Chad, Gil, and Hilary at climatepositive@hasi.com or tweet them to @ClimatePosiPod.

In this episode, Amanda Hsieh talks with Lauren Mechak, ClimeCo's Director of Program Development. Lauren leads ClimeCo's efforts to evaluate new ideas for carbon offsets and other environmental commodities through technical, scientific, and financial feasibility. Lauren and the Program Development Team work through all aspects of early project development, including quantitative carbon offset methodology drafting with major registries, like the Climate Action Reserve and Verra. She has worked on projects ranging from industrial nitrous oxide abatement to nature-based solutions, such as reforestation. While Lauren's work is primarily in the voluntary carbon offset space, she also has expertise in compliance markets, including California's Cap-and-Trade and Low Carbon Fuel Standard. She received her Master of Environmental Management in Economics and Policy at Duke University. During her time at Duke, she worked with the university's Carbon Offsets Initiative to help Duke achieve carbon neutrality and served as an Article Editor for Duke's Environmental Law and Policy Forum. Before Duke, Lauren earned her B.Sc. from McGill University in Biology in 2013. Listen as Amanda and Lauren define carbon offsets, and discuss their purpose. This is an interesting time for the carbon offset market. There are many new investors in this arena, which is complex and confusing to some. Learn more through Lauren's recent article, Are we missing the point of offsets?. Make sure to subscribe to ESG Decoded on your favorite streaming platforms and our new YouTube Channel so that you're notified of our vodcast episodes! Don't forget to connect with us on our social media channels. Enjoy this episode! Interested in being a guest on the podcast? For consideration and scheduling, please fill out this form.

In this episode, Andy Vesey is joined by Tyler Cole, Director of Carbon Intelligence at FreightWaves. Founded in 2017, the FreightIntel provider enables companies involved in the $9.6 trillion global logistics market to benchmark, analyze, monitor, and forecast the carbon emissions generated by their transportation networks. FreightWaves'​ SaaS platform SONAR, has time-series and geo-based data from all modes of freight, including truck, rail, ocean, air, and warehouse. In this in-depth conversation, Tyler shares his journey into the freight industry and how alternative fuels were his first introduction to differentiation through sustainability and environmental performance; explains how programs such as California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard will increase the number of electromotive vehicles; and describes coming out of the ‘covid demand explosion' as a silver lining for supply chains, with the volume of freight being tendered from shippers to fleets decreasing, allowing consumer staples and industrials to lead the way.

The cost of solar power has decreased by a factor of 1,000 over the last fifty years, and by a factor of 10,000 since it was first used to power a satellite in the mid-1950s. According to the International Energy Agency, in some sunny regions solar is now the cheapest energy available – cheaper than coal, gas and wind. What have we learned from solar's multi-decade cost curve decline? How did it benefit from a free flow of ideas, equipment and people across national borders? What lessons can we apply to other forms of climatetech, such as energy storage and carbon capture?David, Sara, Ed, and special guest Greg Nemet break down solar's trajectory on Episode 29 of Energy vs Climate.Episode Notes: @0:47 - IPCC 6: Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability@1:00 - Ukraine War and U.S. Politics Complicate Climate Change Fight@2:15 -  How Solar Energy Became Cheap,  Twitter: @GregNemet@5:56 - There should be no new gas supply contracts with Russia: IEA (cnbc.com)@7:14 - 25. anniversary of the 1973 oil embargo: Energy trends since the first major U.S. energy crisis@15:15 - Inter-technology knowledge spillovers for energy technologies - ScienceDirect@20:00 – Expert Assessments of Future Photovoltaic Technologies@21:00 - The German Feed-in Tariff - futurepolicy.org@32:03 - Evaluating the causes of cost reduction in photovoltaic modules - ScienceDirect@34:50 - U.S. Solar Photovoltaic System and Energy Storage Cost Benchmark: Q1 2020 (nrel.gov)@40:02 - Canadian Solar – Global@54:34 - Low Carbon Fuel Standard - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics@55:17 - WTO Body Confirms Ontario's Local Content Rules for Renewables Are Discriminatory (powermag.com)

California's push for cleaner fuel is helping dairy farmers cash in on their cow's manure. Huge subsidies in California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard are paying dairy farmers who capture the methane emitted in their cows' manure.

On this week's edition of New York NOW: Lawmakers are scheduled to leave Albany for the year after June 10. What's going to happen in the final days of this year's legislative session? We'll take a look. Our own Darrell Camp and Kate Lisa from Johnson Newspapers have a preview of top issues to come in the next few days, and the news of the week. The New York Health Act would set up a single-payer health care system in New York, but business groups say it would be bad for the state's bottom line. Lev Ginsburg from the New York State Business Council and Edward Farrell from the Retired Public Employees Association join us to discuss. And lawmakers in New York are considering adopting a Low Carbon Fuel Standard, which could curb carbon emissions. Julie Tighe from the New York League of Conservation Voters is with us to explain.  Learn More: nynow.org

LCFS programs are intended to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by lowering the average carbon intensity of transportation fuels used in a given geographical area. What effects could such programs have on consumers and other end users? Hosted by: John Eichberger, Executive Director, Fuels Institute and Donovan Woods, Director of Operations, Fuels Institute

With the ink barely dry on Oregon's costly Low Carbon Fuel Standard law, Portland city commissioner Steve Novick bets than a 10-cents-a-gallon gas tax will be his ticket to re-election. Along the way, Ann asks the question: What if we can say how our tax dollars are spent?  We wrap with the one "sin" that's not subject to a "sin tax." That's right, "recreational" marijuana in Oregon is not taxed. Who will be the first politician to come out of the ganja closet?  Here’s how you can hear more: Listen on Podbean, the podcasting platform. The podcast is now available on iTunes. Please subscribe to make the most of your weekly Econ Minute. For blogging on the Portland City Council scene, check out TuesdayMemo. For a minute or so of economics, read the EconMinute blog.

Plenty of artists have penned songs about California - from Tupac to the Beach Boys to Katy Perry. But the one aspect of California that every singer seems to leave out is its Low Carbon Fuel Standard, a potentially game-changing program to clean up transportation fuels. LCFS credits have spiked in...

Truckin' John Boesel, CEO, CALSTART Mike Tunnell, Director, Environmental Affairs, American Trucking Associations Alan Niedzwiecki, CEO, Quantum Technologies In August, the Obama administration announced the first-ever fuel efficiency standards for heavy-duty trucks and buses. The three experts convened at this Climate One panel say that the trucking industry is ready to meet the new rules, which require semi-trucks to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2018. “What’s exciting now is that we have some decent public policy in place,” says John Boesel, CEO, CALSTART. “The engineering talent that was dedicated to cleaning up the criteria emissions is going to be applied to helping reduce our dependence on oil and cut greenhouse gas emissions. I think we’re going to see a lot of innovation in this space.” The new rules “will encourage fleets over this short term to develop best-available technology that is there today. It won’t really be technology forcing,” he says. At the same time, he adds, fleets will be looking at alternative fuels, especially natural gas, when they make economic sense. Mike Tunnell, Director of Environmental Affairs, American Trucking Associations, agrees, pointing out that with diesel prices hovering in $3 to $4 gallon range, “fleets are beginning to look more, in America, at alternative fuels and natural gas in an effort to cut some of the fuel costs.” But, he cautions, there is a flip side: the upfront costs for equipment are higher, and fuel availability becomes a concern. Climate One’s Greg Dalton picks up on the supply worries later, asking if fleet operators are concerned energy firms might not meet California’s Low-Carbon Fuel Standard, which aims to reduce the carbon intensity of California’s transportation fuels by 10% by 2020. “There will be some concerns,” says John Boesel, “but this is a regulation that will encourage them to be more innovative and more creative than they have been in the past.” David Mazaika, Chief Operating Officer, Quantum Technologies, says that plenty of examples, including hybrid buses now in service, prove that the fuel standards can be met. “It certainly can be done; the industry just needs to focus on that. Now, with the new legislation, there are some targets out there that the industry can focus on and really strive to meet.” “The technology is out there to be able to support these types of levels,” he says. “It will be a wide spectrum – everything from aerodynamic improvements to hybrid-drive systems and different fuels.” This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on October 5, 2011

Dan Sperling and David Stern discuss the low-carbon fuel standard in California, moving from a basic definition of the standard to its motivations and effects from the perspectives of an academic researcher and an fuels industry expert. (April 13, 2011)

  Feb. 10, 2009: Jane Van Ryan speaks with Catherine Reheis-Boyd of the Western Staets Petroleum Association (WSPA) about the Low Carbon Fuel Standard that’s been raising a lot of questions in California.