| April 23, 2009 |  |
California Should Adopt Pathbreaking Policy to Reduce Fuel Pollution
Statement by Patricia Monahan, Union of Concerned Scientists
SACRAMENTO (April 23, 2009) – Today, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) will vote on a low carbon fuel standard requiring gasoline and diesel fuel suppliers to reduce heat-trapping emissions from their fuels 10 percent by 2020.
Earlier this week, 177 scientists and economists submitted a letter to CARB Chairwoman Mary Nichols in which they urged the board to accurately account for all "life cycle" pollution from biofuels. They noted that peer-reviewed studies document how increasing biofuel production increases crop prices, giving farmers overseas more incentive to destroy tropical forests for farmland.
Below is a statement by Patricia Monahan, director of the Union of Concerned Scientists' (UCS) Berkeley office.
"California's low carbon fuel standard is a critical part of the state's strategy to build a clean energy economy. But to fulfill the intent of the standard, CARB must account for all pollution caused by growing food crops for fuel. Scientific studies conclude that growing biofuels in the United States can trigger deforestation and other land use changes in other countries, resulting in more heat-trapping emissions going into the atmosphere. If we do not account for these emissions, the standard could result in more pollution than if we continued to rely on gasoline and diesel.
"The biofuel industry's call for 'sound science' is dishonest. The science is clear on this point. California needs a biofuels industry that's part of a clean energy economy, not one that receives a blank check to pollute.
"The proposed value for corn ethanol is conservative, and a proper accounting would push the value up further. Corn ethanol producers should be aware that the future could look even more bleak. We are confident the air board will continue to refine how it calculates pollution from biofuels, and that emissions will likely be higher in future estimates. Biofuel investors should take the long view and invest in truly low carbon fuels, including ones made from waste, woodchips or switchgrass."
The Union of Concerned Scientists puts rigorous, independent science to work to solve our planet's most pressing problems. Joining with citizens across the country, we combine technical analysis and effective advocacy to create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future.
