SEATTLE (AP) — Gov. Jay Inslee is exploring a mandate for cleaner transportation fuels — much like California’s first-in-the-nation standard — as part of a broader effort to tackle climate change. He has said he could use his executive power to pass a rule, which has angered some Republican lawmakers. Some questions and answers about a low carbon fuel standard:
What is a low carbon fuel standard?
The standard typically requires fuel producers to reduce the carbon content of fuels by 10 percent over 10 years. A fuel’s carbon intensity is calculated from the time it is produced to when it’s burned in a vehicle. Fuel suppliers can usually develop their own clean fuels, mix gasoline with alternative fuels such as biodiesel or ethanol, or buy credits from other companies.
Who is proposing it and why?
The governor has been studying the issue but says he has not made a decision yet. He has said repeatedly that more needs to be done now if the state is to meet a 2008 state law requiring carbon emissions to be reduced to 1990 levels by 2020, and even further beyond that.
What are the arguments in favor of it?
Supporters say a low carbon fuel standard spurs innovation and stimulates investment in new fuels, reduces pollution, offers consumers more fuel choices and reduces the state’s reliance on petroleum-based fuels. The idea is to lower greenhouse gas emissions from driving, since the transportation sector accounts for 47 percent of the state’s carbon emissions.