20 advanced biofuel companies write to California ARB over proposed indirect land-use change regulation
In California, more than 20 advanced biofuel companies, plus key California-based researchers and investors, wrote to the California Air Resources Board regarding the Draft Regulation for the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard, which they said indirectly would discriminate against biofuels. The letter said that the biofuels supports research on the effect of indirect land use changes, but said that no robust model has been yet developed to measure indirect land use changes.
Spearheaded by Brooke Coleman of the New Fuels Alliance, the letter says “The biofuels industry is firm in its commitment to produce sustainable fuels. But we are equally adamant that renewable fuels be subjected to the same regulatory standard as other fuels participating in the LCFS. As it stands today, biofuels are held to a higher standard than all other fuels, including oil.”
What do you think? What do you think this story means for bioenergy? Leave a comment below and get the community engaged on what you see as the real issues - others will be glad you did!


Subscribe FREE to the world's most-widely read biofuels daily.
Joelle Brink | Apr 15, 2009 | Reply
I know it’s a radical suggestion, but let’s ask for help. We simply can’t afford infighting and American chauvinism any longer. While we argue, other nations with clear land use policies, biofuel incentives and competitive research infrastructures are already shaping the global industry.
We’ve just seen the US quietly relegated to supporting player status in the new G-20. Let’s not argue and navel gaze our way onto the sidelines of the global biofuels industry too.