Subject Top Page: Low Carbon Fuel Standard Program

Resources

This page last reviewed May 12, 2008.

This page provides information regarding ARB's Low Carbon Fuel Standard Program pursuant to the California Assembly Bill AB 32 and the Governor's Executive Order S-01-07.

Executive Order S-1-07, the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) (issued on January 18, 2007), calls for a reduction of at least 10 percent in the carbon intensity of California's transportation fuels by 2020. It instructed the California Environmental Protection Agency to coordinate activities between the University of California, the California Energy Commission and other state agencies to develop and propose a draft compliance schedule to meet the 2020 target. Furthermore, it directed ARB to consider initiating a regulatory proceedings to establish and implement the LCFS. In response, ARB identified the LCFS as an early action item with a regulation to be adopted and implemented by 2010.

If you have questions regarding this program, please contact the California Air Resources Board at (916) 322-6020.

What's New

May 28-30, 2008: California Biomass Collaborative 5th Annual Forum by joining with California Energy Commission, the California Institute for Food and Agricultural Research, the Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies, the California Air Resources Board, and the University of California - Davis to present a 3-day program on bioenergy sustainability and lifecycle analysis (PDF-46k)
May 9, 2008: Draft Documents of Lifecycle Analysis for Fuel Pathways Using CA-Modified GREET Model: See details below
March 20, 2008: Proposed Concept Outline for the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard Regulation (PDF- 186k)
March 18, 2008: GREET Seminar presented by Michael Wang from Argonne National Laboratory. This event is sponsored by the U.S Department of Energy (DOE).
University of California Study: A Low-Carbon Fuel Standard for California - The final report was produced by the University of California for the State in response to the Executive Order S-1-07 - Low Carbon Fuel Standard.
- Part 1: Technical Analysis (PDF-1,020k) (May 29, 2007)
- Part 2: Policy Analysis (PDF- 444k) (August 1, 2007)
A preliminary version of the VISION-CA model has been posted online (June 2007). This model was used to construct the scenarios presented in Part I of the UC LCFS study. Please visit the UC Davis - Institute of Transportation Studies website for more information.

Meetings, Activities, and Workshops

May 9, 2008	The Public Workshops to discuss topics concerning the development of staff's proposal for a Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). The Lifecycle Analysis Working Group and the Compliance and Enforcement Working Group will be providing updates and seeking comments from stakeholders. 1) LCFS Lifecycle Analysis Working Group 1 Time: 9:00 am to 12:00 p.m. Group Leader: Anil Prabhu (916) 327-1501 Email: aprabhu@arb.ca.gov 2) LCFS Compliance and Enforcement Working Group 2 Time: 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Group Leader: Jing Yuan (916) 322-8875 Email: jyuan@arb.ca.gov Location: Cal/EPA Headquarters Building - Room: Sierra Hearing Room 1001 "I" St - Sacramento CA 95814 - (This meeting will be webcast) Revised Meeting Notice and Agenda (PDF-25k) Re-scheduled from May 2 to May 9, 2008 Draft Documents of Lifecycle Analysis for Fuel Pathways: Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) (PDF-675k), Corn Ethanol (PDF-835k), CARBOB (PDF-657k), CaRFG (PDF-271k), Natural Gas (PDF-580k), Electricity (PDF-682k) Presentations: LCFS Lifecycle Analysis Group 1 - in color (PDF-2.8mb), in black and white for printing (PDF-1.1mb) LCFS Compliance and Enforcement Group 2 - in color (PDF-350k), in black and white for printing (PDF-137k) University of California - Davis: "Compliance Pathways for Meeting the Low Carbon Fuel Standard in California - Biofuel Supply Curves" (PDF-3.5mb) Renewable Fuels Associate: "LCFS and Corn Ethanol: Status of Issues" (PDF-66k)
March 25, 2008	The Public Workshop to provide materials related to early draft regulatory language and information on fuel pathways of Low Carbon Fuel Standard. Time: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Location: California Energy Commission - Hearing Room A 1516 Ninth St - Sacramento CA 95814 - This meeting will be webcast Meeting Notice and Agenda (PDF-1.1mb) Proposed Concept Outline for the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard Regulation (PDF- 186k) Presentations: ARB Staff Presentation - in color (PDF-299k), in black and white for printing (PDF-298k) Environmental Group Presentation (PDF-186k) Western States Petroleum Association Presentation (PDF-103k) Western States Petroleum Association LCFS Implementation Proposal (PDF-28k)
March 18, 2008	GREET Seminar presented by Michael Wang from Argonne National Laboratory. Sponsored by the U.S Department of Energy (DOE). Time: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM Location: ARB Monitoring and Laboratory Division Room: Conference Room North - 1st floor 1927 13th St. - Sacramento - CA 95814 The venue and sign-up procedure for the seminar has been changed. 60 seats are available on the first come first serve basis. Please see the notice for the sign-up procedure (PDF-11k) Agenda (PDF-9k) Presentations at the Seminar can be downloaded from Argonne National Lab website
February 14, 2008	CA-GREET Model Training Time: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM Location: California Energy Commission - Hearing Room B 1516 Ninth St - Sacramento CA 95814 CA-GREET Training Agenda (PDF-90k) CA-GREET Training Presentation in color (PDF-652k) - in black and white (PDF-861k) CA-GREET Model (XLS-7.93Mb)
January 18, 2008	The working group meeting is scheduled as following: (This meeting has been canceled) LCFS Policy and Regulatory Working Group 3 Time: 9:00 am to 4:30 p.m. (lunch break 12 p.m.-1:30 p.m.) Phone: (916) 324-0340 Email: czhangti@arb.ca.gov Group Leader: Christina Zhang-Tillman Location: Cal/EPA Building - Room CR550 (5th Floor) 1001 I St - Sacramento - CA 95814 Meeting Notice (PDF-10k) - (CANCELED)
January 17, 2008	The working group meeting is scheduled as following: LCFS Lifecycle Analysis Working Group 1 Time: 9:00 am to 4:30 p.m. Group Leader: Anil Prabhu (916) 327-1501 Email: aprabhu@arb.ca.gov Location: Cal/EPA Building - Room CR550 (5th Floor) 1001 I St - Sacramento - CA 95814 Meeting Notice (PDF-10k) - Agenda (PDF-9k) GREET Training Agenda (PDF-90k) Co-product Credit draft spreadsheets provided by Life Cycle Associates Electricity (XLS-59k) DDGS for Corn EtOH and Soy for Biodiesel (XLS-238k) Land Use Impacts analysis by UC Berkeley Memorandum: RE: Greenhouse Gases Emissions from Indirect Land Use Change (PDF-43k) Land Use Change Calculation spreadsheet (XLS-114k) Presentation: "Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Indirect Land Use Change" - in color (PDF-278k), in black and white (PDF-307k) Possible Feedstock Fuel Pathways to be considered for the LCFS (PDF-124k) Input Values of GREET Model currently used in AB-1007 Analysis for CaRFG (PDF-20k) Presentations: ARB Staff Presentation - in color (PDF-442k), in black and white (PDF-229k) University of Nebraska, Lincoln: "BESS Model: Biofuel Energy System Simulator" (PDF-1.4mb)
January 7, 2008	The working group meeting is scheduled as following: LCFS Compliance and Enforcement Working Group 2 Time: 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Group Leader: Jing Yuan (916) 322-8875 Email: jyuan@arb.ca.gov Location: ARB Monitoring & Laboratory Division Conference Room MLD-North (1st floor) 1927 13th St. Sacramento CA 95814 Meeting Notice (PDF-10k) ARB Staff Presentation in color (PDF143k) , in black and white (PDF-68k)
December 20, 2007	The working group meeting is scheduled as following: LCFS Policy and Regulatory Working Group 3 Time: 9:00 am to 4:30 p.m. Group Leader: Christina Zang-Tillman (916) 324-0340 Email: czhangti@arb.ca.gov Location: Cal/EPA Building - Room CR550 1001 I St - Sacramento - CA 95814 Meeting Notice (PDF-10k) Presentations: ARB Staff Presentation in color (PDF-212k) , in black and white (PDf-200k) SASOL Chevron: "Life Cycle Assessment of Transportation Fuel Technologies" (PDF-345k)
December 13, 2007	The working group meeting is scheduled as following: LCFS Compliance and Enforcement Working Group 2 Time: 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Group Leader: Jing Yuan (916) 322-8875 Email: jyuan@arb.ca.gov Location: Cal/EPA Building - Room CR550 1001 I St - Sacramento - CA 95814 Meeting Notice (PDF-10k) Presentations: ARB Staff Presentation: in color (PDF-119k) Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory: "Determination of BioCarbon Content of Transportation Fuels by Carbon-14 Analysis" (PDF-278k) Valero: "Using U.S. EPA RINs for CA LCFS Compliance" (PDF-45k) Background Papers: ARB Staff Discussion of the Renewable Identification Number (PDF-107k) ARB Staff Discussion of the Reporting Program in the UK Renewable Transportation Fuel Obligation (PDF-473k)
November 16, 2007	The third working group meetings are scheduled as following: 1) LCFS Policy & Regulatory Development Working Group 3 Time: 9:00 am to 12:00 p.m. Group Leader: Christina Zhang-Tillman (916) 324-0340 Email: czhangti@arb.ca.gov 2) LCFS Lifecycle Analysis Working Group 1 Time: 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Group Leader: Anil Prabhu (916) 327-1501 Email: aprabhu@arb.ca.gov Location: California Energy Commission - Room: Conference Room 1A 1516 Ninth St Sacramento CA 95814 Please note the following call-in procedure for these Working Groups: Call-In: 800-988-9469 Participant Passcode: CARBON Leader: JOHN COURTIS Meeting Notice (PDF-10k) (This meeting will be webcast at the CEC website) Draft ARB Consideration of Co-products in Lifecycle Analysis of Fuels (PDF-189k) ARB Staff Presentations Working Group 3 (Policy and Regulatory) Presentation in color (PDF-300k), in black and white (PDF-167k) Working Group 1 (Life Cycle Analysis) Presentation in color (PDF-239k), in black and white (PDF-174k) Other Presentations Shell Global Solutions:: "California Low Carbon Fuel Standard Discussion document : Coproducts" (PDF-124k) Chevron: "A Little of A Lot: Stimulating Innovation in Fuel Technology Using the Market" (PDF-34k)
October 24, 2007	The Public Workshop to discuss the key issues raised in the Working Group Meetings and the selected recommendations from the UC Report starting from 9:00 am. Meeting Notice and Agenda (PDF-96k) - (This meeting will be webcast. During the meeting, questions and comments can be e-mailed to onair@arb.ca.gov) ARB Staff Presentation Low Carbon Fuel Standard (PDF-207k)
October 23, 2007	The second working group meetings are scheduled as following: 1) Lifecycle Analysis Working Group 1 Time: 9:00 am to 12:00 pm Group Leader: Anil Prabhu (916) 327-1501 Email: aprabhu@arb.ca.gov 2) Compliance and Enforcement Working Group 2 Time: 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm Group Leader: Jing Yuan (916) 322-8875 Email: jyuan@arb.ca.gov Location: California Energy Commission - Room: Hearing Room A 1516 Ninth St - Sacramento - CA 95814 Please note the following call-in procedure for these Working Groups: Call-In: 800-369-1142 Participant Passcode: LIFECYCLE Leader: ANIL PRABHU Meeting Notice (PDF-10k) (This meeting will be webcast) ARB Staff Presentation Working Group 1: Lifecycle Analysis (PDF-88k) Working Group 2: Compliance and Enforcement (PDF-114k)
October 4, 2007	The first working group meetings are scheduled as following: 1) Lifecycle Analysis Working Group Time: 9:00 am to 12:00 pm Group Leader: Anil Prabhu (916) 327-1501 Email: aprabhu@arb.ca.gov 2) Compliance and Enforcement Working Group Time: 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm Group Leader: Jing Yuan (916) 322-8875 Email: jyuan@arb.ca.gov Meeting Notice (Revised) (PDF-10k) - (This meeting will be webcast) ARB Staff Presentation Working Group 1: Lifecycle Analysis (PDF-54k) - for printing handout (PDF-19k) Working Group 2: Compliance and Enforcement (PDF-164k) - for printing handout (PDF- 40k)
September 13, 2007	The first Public Consultation meeting to discuss Low Carbon Fuel Standard pursuant to the California Assembly Bill (AB) 32 and the Governor's Executive Order S-01-07 will be held in Sacramento, CA starting from 9:00 A.M. Meeting Notice and Agenda (PDF-22k) - (This meeting will be webcast. During the meeting, questions and comments can be e-mailed to onair@arb.ca.gov) Updated Meeting Agenda (PDF-25k) ARB Staff Presentation (PDF-588k) California Energy Commission Presentation (PDF-11k) University of California Presentation: "The Low Carbon Fuel Standard" (PDF-104k)

LCFS Public Comments

Group 1: Lifecycle Analysis
- December 7, 2007: email from Naomi Kim of California Environmental Rights Alliance (CERA) (PDF-35k)
- October 22, 2007: email from Philip Heirigs of Chevron (PDF-19k)
- October 17, 2007: email from The Pacific Forest Trust (PDF-179k)
- October 11, 2007: email from Allen Dusault of Sustanability Conservation (PDF-17k)
Group 2: Compliance and Enforcement
- October 8, 2007: email from Bruce Buchholz of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (PDF-18k)
Group 3: Policy and Regulatory Development
- December 21, 2007: email from Cal Hodge of A 2nd Opinion, Inc. on behalf of Neste Oil (PDF-24k)
- December 20, 2007: email from Brooke Coleman of New Fuels Alliance (PDF-47k)
- October 8, 2007: email from Bruce Buchholz of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (PDF-18k same as Group 2)
Group 4: Environmental and Economic

Background Information

California Governor Executive Order S-01-07 (January 2007) (PDF-27k)
Governor Schwarzenegger's Website: Low Carbon Fuel Standard
The Governor Office White Paper (January 2007) (PDF-149k)
California Assembly Bill AB 32 (Nunez - 2006) (PDF-88k) - Supporting Website
California Assembly Bill AB 1007 (Pavley - 2005) (PDF-79k) - Supporting Website
California Assembly Bill AB 1493 (Pavley - 2002) (PDF-29k) - Supporting Website
UC Davis - Institute of Transportation Studies - Analysis of California's LCFS
UC Berkeley - Transportation Sustainability Research Center - Low-Carbon Fuel Standard Project
ARB Presentation at the Board Hearing June 21 & 22, 2007 considered approval of a list of proposed early actions measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006.
U.S EPA - Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives: Renewable Fuel Standard Program (May 2007) - Final Rule
European Experiences:
- Low-Carbon Fuel Activities in United Kingdom (2007)
  - Carbon and Sustainability Reporting Within the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation Requirements and Guidance (PDF-1.87mb)
  - Carbon Reporting within the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation Methodology (PDF-611k)

Other Information

California Bioenergy Action Plan (July 2006)
California Climate Action Initiatives (June 2005)
ARB Alternative Fuels Incentives Program

Existing Fuels Regulations

The California Reformulated Gasoline Regulations as of April 2005.
The California Diesel Regulations as of August 2004.

Related Links

U.S EPA - Alternative Fuels Program and Renewable Fuel Standard Program
U.S Department of Energy - Alternative Fuels Data Center
California Energy Commission - Alternative Fuels Plan (AB1007) and Low Carbon Fuel Standard

Related Literature

Lifecycle Analysis

Argonne National Laboratory GREET Model Publications and Workshop Presentations

Land Use from Biofuels Diversity

Science Magazine Carbon Mitigation by Biofuels or by Saving and Restoring Forests? vol. 17, August 17, 2007 by Righelato, R. and Spracklen, D.
Environmental Science and Technology "Environmental Tradeoffs of Biobased Production" August 1, 2007 by Miller C., Landis A., and Theis T.

Co-Products for Biofuels

Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California, Davis Incorporating the Effect of Price Changes on CO2-Equivalent Emissions from Alternative Fuel Lifecycles: Scoping the Issues DRAFT Research Report UCD-ITS-RR-05-19, October 2005, Delucchi, Mark.
Updated Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emission Results of Fuel Ethanol The 15th International Symposium on Alcohol Fuels, San Diego, CA, September 26-28, 2005, Wang, Michael.

Fuel pathways

Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California, Davis Appendix X: Pathway Diagrams June 20, 2005, Wang, Guihua, and Delucchi, Mark.

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