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How low can the carbon go? Mass. leaders want to develop low carbon fuel standards

Print | Comments () Posted by Beth Daley April 23, 2008 05:59 PM

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By Beth Daley, Globe Staff

Massachusetts leaders today pledged to develop limits on how much carbon can be in gasoline, diesel and heating fuel – an ambitious initiative aimed at dramatically reducing greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.

The move is the latest in the state's efforts to establish itself as a national leader, by limiting power plant emissions, investing in clean energy and reducing pollution from vehicle tailpipes.

“Only one other state has done this – California,’’ said Ian Bowles, Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary. We are “collectively frustrated with the federal government. Massachusetts is taking a leadership role.”

The announcement by Gov. Deval Patrick, Senate President Therese Murray and House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi came as the state released a 96-page Advanced Biofuels Task Force Report. The report suggests ways to aggressively pursue biofuels and research in the region, including setting standards for how much carbon should be in fuel.

A substitute for traditional liquid petroleum products, biofuels are derived from renewable sources such as corn, soy, switch grass, agricultural waste, wood and waste oil. They have come under sharp scrutiny in the last year because they can emit more greenhouse gases than traditional fuels if their entire lifecycle is analyzed. There are also worries that production of wide-spread biofuels could push out other crops needed for food around the world.

The report suggests “advanced fuels” – those that come from non-food sources and emit less greenhouse gases during their lifecycle than petroleum, offer the greatest potential for reducing carbon in fuel. Other options for vehicles include all-electric, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen fuel cells. Bowles said the state would only pursue fuels that really give a benefit to the environment.

The state is not pursing biofuels alone. Taking the lead from a landmark regional pact to reduce power plant emissions that starts next year, Massachusetts will ask other Northeast states and Canadian provinces to join in, create a regional cap for carbon in fuel.

“A Low Carbon Fuel Standard is the next step in encouraging the growth of our clean energy sector,’’ said Governor Patrick. “We get our fuels from a regional market, so the best way to encourage alternatives to petroleum is through a regional approach.”

Environmentalists applauded the move.

“This is a critical step in addressing the largest and fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions, and it needs to play out on the regional stage,’’ said Seth Kaplan, vice president for climate advocacy for the Conservation Law Foundation.

Even California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger praised the announcement.
“I applaud Massachusetts, Gov. Deval Patrick and Legislative leaders for taking bipartisan action to fight global warming today by adopting a Low Carbon Fuel standard modeled after California’s,” Schwarzenegger said.