On January 18, 2007, Governor Schwarzenegger signed an Executive Order establishing a low carbon standard for transportation fuels sold in California. This groundbreaking action requires that the carbon intensityA measure of the amount of carbon contained in various energy forms. (units of carbon emitted per unit of energy) of transportation fuels sold in the state be reduced by at least 10 percent by 2020. The Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS), adopted in April, 2009, will reduce California’s dependence on oil, boost the state’s clean technology industry and reduce greenhouse gasA gas in Earth's atmosphere that traps heat and can contribute to global warming. Carbon dioxide and methane are two GHGs. emissions.
“Carbon intensity” is the full lifecycle accounting of the greenhouse gas emissions associated with a fuel. It includes traditional emissions from production, transport, storage and use of the fuel as well as emissions due to other effects, such as land use change.
LCFS will require California fuel providers to offer a mixture of fuels that, on average, reduces GHG emissions measured in CO2-equivalent gram per unit of fuel energy. For fuels that are used in advanced technology vehicles, such as electricity and hydrogen, the carbon intensity is adjusted based on the efficiency of the vehicle compared to a gasoline vehicle.
| Well-to-Wheels GHG (based on carbon intensity) |
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| Pathway | Grams of CO2 per mJ of fuel energy* | % reduction compared to gasoline |
| H2 (onsite from natural gas and 33% renewable) | 33.09 | 65% |
| Electricity (CA marginal) | 34.90 | 64% |
| Electricity (average California mix) | 41.37 | 57% |
| H2 (onsite from natural gas) | 42.74 | 55% |
| H2 (central production from natural gas) | 61.83 | 35% |
| Gasoline | 95.85 | 0% |
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*adjusted by the appropriate energy efficiency ratio (EER) |
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More about California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard:
