BIO Urges California to Readopt the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, With Changes

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) is “generally supportive” of California’s plan to readopt the state Low Carbon Fuel Standard, the trade organization stated in comments submitted Tuesday to the California Air Resources Board (CARB). As a trade organization representing advanced biofuel producers, BIO expressed concerns about certain aspects of the law and their potential impact on the production of low carbon biofuels.

Brent Erickson, executive vice president of BIO’s Industrial & Environmental Section, wrote in the comments:

“BIO and its members are concerned that the intensified reporting requirements under the readoption plan could be particularly burdensome in time and cost to small and new low-carbon fuel producers. BIO urges CARB to take this concern into account as it works to finalize the readoption plan so that advanced and drop in biofuels can play a meaningful role in reducing climate emissions. CARB should make every effort to ensure that the new reporting (and other) requirements under the plan do not inadvertently discourage small producers or innovation.

“BIO is generally supportive of the readoption plan, but has concerns as outlined in this letter with respect to the compliance curve, reporting requirements, GREET model, and denaturant calculation.”