Key Policies
The State Alternative Fuels Plan of 2007 (Assembly Bill 1007, Pavley, Chapter 371, Statutes of 2005), jointly developed and adopted by the Energy Commission and Air Resources Board, presented strategies to increase the use of alternativeand non-petroleum fuels for transportation. The State Alternative Fuels Plan set goals of reducing petroleum dependence by 15 percent and increasing alternative fuels use by 20 percent, by 2020. The alternative fuels proposed in the plan could achieve these goals and reduce greenhouse gases by 15 percent to 20 percent in the near term.
Other important California regulations include the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (Assembly Bill 32, Núñez, Chapter 488, Statutes of 2006), “Zero Emission Vehicle” regulations, the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, the Bioenergy Action Plan, the Renewable Portfolio Standard and the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air.
Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Regulation
http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/zevprog/zevprog.htm
The ZEV regulation requires large automakers to produce certain percentages of “pure zero” emission and “near-zero” emission vehicles for sale in California to meet California’s air quality goals.
Zero Emission Bus Regulation
The ARB’s Zero Emission Bus (ZEB) regulation affects large transit agencies with more than 200 buses and includes a 15 percent fleet ZEB purchase requirement.
Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS)
http://www.arb.ca.gov/fuels/lcfs/lcfs.htm
The LCFS establishes carbon intensity standards that fuel producers and importers must meet each year beginning in 2011, to reach a 10 percent carbon intensity reduction by 2020.
Bioenergy Action Plan
http://www.energy.ca.gov/bioenergy_action_plan/
An Executive Order established targets to increase the production and use of bioenergy, including ethanol and biodiesel fuels from renewable resources. For biofuels, the state’s goal is to produce a minimum of 20 percent of its biofuels within California by 2010, 40 percent by 2020, and 75 percent by 2050.
Renewable Fuel Standard:
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/fuels/renewablefuels/
The federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Program requires that 36 billion gallons of total renewable fuel is used as transportation fuel by 2022.
National Greenhouse Gas and Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards for Vehicles
http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/laws/law/US/385
The combined U.S. EPA and NHTSA standards require passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty passenger vehicles sold in the U.S. to meet an estimated combined average emissions level of 250 grams of carbon dioxide (CO2) per mile, equivalent to 35.5 miles per gallon (MPG) if the automobile industry were to meet this CO2 level solely through fuel economy improvements.
Renewable Portfolio Standard
http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/PUC/energy/Renewables/
California’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) requires electric corporations to increase procurement from eligible renewable energy resources by at least 1 percent of their retail sales annually, until they reach 20 percent by 2010.
Clean Air Action Plan
http://www.cleanairactionplan.org/
The Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach adopted the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan to reduce port-related air pollution, including particulate matter, nitrogen oxide, and sulfur oxide, by at least 45 percent by 2012. As part of the Clean Air Action Plan, the ports are implementing a Clean Trucks Program, which aims to reduce heavy-duty drayage truck-related air pollution by 80 percent by 2012.
Reports
http://www.energy.ca.gov/altfuels/index.html
The Energy Commission is required to assess localized health impacts for funded projects that require a permit.
Investment Plan
Intro (page vi, IP): The investment plan for the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program serves as the guidance document for the allocation of program funding and is prepared annually based on input and advice of the Assembly Bill 118 Advisory Committee. It details how the California Energy Commission, with input from stakeholders and the Advisory Committee, determined the program’s goal-driven priorities coupled with project opportunities for funding.