GoodFuels

Listen to Sound Science

Over 100 scientists are asking the state of California to listen to them before making any rash decisions when it comes to the development of its Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS).

A total of 111 top scientists affiliated with research labs such as the National Academy of Sciences, UC-Berkeley, Sandia National Labs, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and MIT sent a letter to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today opposing the “selective enforcement of indirect effects.”

They are questioning the approach taken by the California Air Resources Board which singles out biofuels for “indirect effects,” claiming that petroleum products result in lower carbon emissions. Under the proposal, all fuels are assigned a “carbon score” to reward the least carbon intensive fuels. But only biofuels are being singled out for so-called “indirect effects,” which thereby gives petroleum products a better carbon score and a competitive advantage.

The scientists have some pretty good points. First of all, they point out that the science regarding indirect land use is far too limited and uncertain at this point for regulatory enforcement. Secondly, they note that indirect effects are often misunderstood and should not be enforced selectively.

In other words, no sound science currently exists that can accurately determine indirect land use and even if it did, it should be applied to all fuels, not just biofuels.

Let’s hope the California Air Resources Board gets its collective fingers out of its ears and listens at least to common sense, if not sound science.