I commend the Scoping Plan's commitment to an interagency
planning process for a supply-side phasedown of oil refining.
This is a huge step forward from the state’s exclusive focus
on demand reduction. However, there must be robust and
immediate follow-through on that commitment to refinery
phasedown. We need to address the growing export by
California refiners of their excess production of gasoline, diesel,
and other petroleum fuels, and the pollution produced by that
refining for export.
Independent assessment shows that
if we curb pollution from refining for export, we could cut up to
one-third of our total petroleum emissions, and simultaneously
reduce in-state oil drilling and oil imports, without any risk
whatsoever to our in-state fuel supply.
Additionally,
the current draft relies heavily on economic modeling that
inadequately incorporates health and equity concerns and privileges
dubious carbon removal technologies (CCS) which perpetuate harms to
environmental justice communities. These areas of weakness
will undermine the achievement of real carbon neutrality.
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