Court Upholds California’s Pioneering Low Carbon Fuel Standard

Policy reduces pollution, drives innovation and benefits public health


San Francisco, CA – Today the ninth circuit court of appeals upheld California’s innovative Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). This decision will help lead California to a low-carbon future through diversification of transportation fuels.

LCFS is a carefully designed policy under AB 32 that reduces global warming pollution, protects and improves public health and drives innovation in business and technology that delivers economic benefits.

Tim O’Connor, Director of EDF”s California Climate Initiatives said of the decision: “This is a great day for public health and the economy of California. The court clearly upheld a groundbreaking policy that will protect consumers and the environment by diversifying our fuel mix and providing more choices for a clean energy future.”

In part, the Court stated: “California should be encouraged to continue and to expand its efforts to find a workable solution to lower carbon emissions, or to slow their rise. If no such solution is found, California residents and people worldwide will suffer great harm. We will not at the outset block California from developing this innovative, nondiscriminatory regulation to impede global warming. If the Fuel Standard works, encouraging the development of alternative fuels by those who would like to reach the California market, it will help ease California’s climate risks and inform other states as they attempt to confront similar challenges"

LCFS reduces the amount of carbon released during the production, shipping and use, known as the “lifecycle” approach, of transportation fuels sold in California by 10% between now and 2020. LCFS efficiently reduces and protects California consumers by cutting air pollution, improving air quality and saving tens of billions of dollars a year in health care costs from respiratory diseases. This policy will also help to stabilize fuel prices and protect Californians against future oil price shocks, while creating jobs and saving up to $5 billion in fuel costs.

Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org), a leading national nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships. For more information, visit www.edf.org/california. Follow us on Twitter @EDF_CA and read our blog at http://blogs.edf.org/californiadream