Background
The Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) was adopted in California in 2009 to contribute to state greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction goals under the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32). The program incentivizes adoption of low-carbon transportation fuels based on the fuel’s assessed lifecycle GHG emissions per unit of energy—or carbon intensity (CI) as rated by the program. The regulation initially laid out annually declining CI benchmarks for the average transportation fuel mix from 2011 through 2020. British Columbia (BC) adopted a similar program (the BC-LCFS) that came into effect in 2011, and Oregon followed with its Clean Fuels Program (CFP) in 2016, each setting targets going out a decade. In September 2018, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) adopted regulatory amendments to extend the LCFS with a target of 20% CI reduction from 2010 levels by 2030, and additional regulatory action setting LCFS targets beyond 2030 is expected in 2023. BC later also set a 20% CI reduction target for 2030. Oregon is currently engaged in setting CFP targets for 2030 and beyond.
The periodic status review series provides updates on "LCFS" program compliance and markets, and addresses selected special topics. Each report reviews data, analyzes trends, and identifies potential challenges. The series began with a focus on California, and has since expanded to other jurisdictions and multi-jurisdiction comparisons.
Latest Issues
- Witcover, Julie and Colin Murphy (2020). Oregon’s Clean Fuels Program: A Review and Status Update. Transportation Research Record 2675 (3), 367 - 378
- Mazzone, D., Witcover, J., & Murphy, C. (2021). Multijurisdictional Status Review of Low Carbon Fuel Standards, 2010–2020 Q2: California, Oregon, and British Columbia. UC Davis: Institute of Transportation Studies. http://dx.doi.org/10.7922/G2SN0771
Previous Issues
- Status Review of Oregon’s Clean Fuels Program, 2016–2018 Q3 (Revised Version) – April 2019 Issue
- Status Review of California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard, 2011–2018 Q1 – September 2018 Issue
- A review of low carbon fuel policies: Principles, program status and future directions – October 2016 (Published in Energy Policy)
- Status Review of California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard – May 2016 Issue
- Status Review of California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard – April 2015 Issue
- Status Review of California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard – July 2014 Issue
- Status Review of California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard – January 2014 Issue
- Status Review of California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard – Spring 2013 (REVISED VERSION)
- Status Review of California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS), 2011-August 2012