The California Air Resources Board will vote Nov. 8 on proposed changes to the state's low carbon fuel standard. This vote will shape the next phase of California’s journey toward carbon neutrality.
To meet its ambitious climate goals, CARB should adopt the proposed rule while granting staff the flexibility to continue building on the substantial emission reductions that biofuels – particularly those produced in North America – are already providing.
Over a 30-year tenure at CARB, I oversaw programs designed to improve air quality and address climate change, including the initial creation of the LCFS. I've witnessed how cleaner fuels have emerged as practical tools to reduce emissions today.
In 2023 alone, biofuels accounted for 75% of the greenhouse gas emission reductions achieved under the LCFS. Remarkably, three of every four gallons of diesel fuel in California is now made of biodiesel and renewable diesel.
These biofuels do more than lower GHG emissions; they significantly improve air quality by reducing particulate matter in the atmosphere. This is crucial for communities with heavy transit, where residents have long suffered from poor air quality. By replacing traditional diesel with cleaner alternatives, we're taking concrete steps to create healthier communities.
Recent reporting on emission reductions highlights how advanced biofuels are already delivering real results. Many cities, counties, and transit agencies have already transitioned their heavy-duty fleets to biofuels.
These advancements have helped cut millions of tons of carbon emissions. The result is cleaner air for our children to breathe, fewer pollution-related health issues, and a significant move toward environmental justice in underserved communities.
It's also important to recognize that advanced biofuels are produced sustainably. They are subject to rigorous sustainability requirements, including solid measures against deforestation and limits on land conversion. By supporting advanced biofuels, we're promoting sustainable agricultural practices and reducing environmental risks associated with fuel production.
Adopting the proposed updates to the LCFS will enable California to build on the successes we’ve achieved with biofuels. By maintaining a science-driven, fuel-neutral, technology-agnostic, and performance-based approach, we can ensure the continued availability of lower-carbon options that are produced sustainably in North America.
It's imperative that we continue to support biofuels in the heavy-duty sectors while aggressively pursuing electrification where feasible. The urgency of the climate crisis demands that CARB act now. Every five years of delay requires thirteen times more emissions reductions to have the same climate impact.
Moreover, the potential for even greater innovation in the biofuels industry holds exciting prospects for the near future. Earlier this year, President Biden’s administration released a report showing the U.S. could sustainably triple the production of biofuels, providing us the capability to satisfy the demand for sustainable aviation fuel and deliver new economic opportunities while addressing climate change.
Advanced biofuels are not just a bridge to a cleaner future—they're part of the solution. They help us produce both food and fuel and repurpose waste that would otherwise go to landfills, thereby reducing emissions today while we continue to develop and scale up other clean energy technologies. There is no silver bullet, one-size-fits-all all solution; California needs to continue embracing advanced biofuels to meet its climate goals and to ensure cleaner air and healthier communities for all its residents.
CARB members should adopt the rule as presented while providing the direction and flexibility staff need to continue leveraging the benefits of advanced biofuels. By doing so, we can maintain our momentum toward decarbonization, support innovation within the biofuel industry, and ensure that North American biofuels continue to provide significant environmental and economic benefits.
Floyd Vergara is a senior policy adviser at Clean Fuels Alliance America. He previously served as chief of the Industrial Strategies Division at the California Air Resources Board, overseeing key climate change and air quality programs, including the state's low carbon fuel standard.