California Republicans are launching an investigation into the Low Carbon Fuel Standard update that is expected to increase the cost of gasoline by 65 cents per gallon — impacting not just California, but the parts of Nevada and Arizona that rely on the Golden State for fuel — on July 1. That’s the middle of the peak summer driving season.
“CARB and the Governor pushed an expensive gas price hike behind closed doors, ignored public input, and misled Californians about the real cost,” said Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones, R-San Diego. “We believe their real goal is to drive gas prices so high that working families have no choice but to buy electric vehicles, whether they can afford them or not. The public deserves the truth, and we intend to shine a light on this radical agenda.”
Jones’ investigation targets communications between California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office and the California Air Resource board regarding the Low Carbon Fuel Standard and its projected economic impacts, including in conjunction with other state emissions programs such as Advanced Clean Trucks and Advanced Clean Cars that require transitions to zero-emissions vehicles.
CARB, all but two of whose voting members are appointed by the governor, approved the tightened Low Carbon Fuel Standard requirements last year. The LCFS program creates a baseline allowable carbon dioxide emissions output that falls over time, with producers of fuels that emit more carbon dioxide — a non-toxic, naturally occurring part of the planet’s atmosphere — than allowed by the standard required to buy credits from producers of “fuels” that emit less than the standard.
CARB says its updated LCFS standards will increase fuel prices by $162 billion through 2046, putting more pressure on the dwindling handful of remaining refineries that have to purchase LCFS credits to remain in operation, with $105 billion going to credits for electric vehicle charging network owners and $8 billion in credits for hydrogen.
