The Canadian regulation is an initiative to reduce the lifecycle carbon intensity of fuels and energy used in Canada and achieve a more than 20 million tpy reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. The Canadian Clean Fuel Standard aims for an average 15 pct (E15) ethanol-gasoline blend rate by 2030. (Source: Growth Energy, Dec, 2020) Contact: Growth Energy, Emily Skor, (202) 545-4000, www.growthenergy.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News E15, Growth Energy, Ethanol, Ethanol Blend, Canada Clan Fuels Standard,
The regulations would require fossil fuels producers and distributors to reduce their products carbon content by 2.6 pct by 2022 increasing to 13 pct by 2030. Companies could achieve that by reducing carbon emitted during production and use of those fuels or by earning credits to apply against emissions. Import rules would be tightened to ensure biofuels brought into Canada were actually reducing carbon emissions in their country of origin. The rules would also enable fuel distributors to earn credits by helping drivers switch to electric vehicles by, for example, building charging stations.
Current biofuel and fossil fuel blending requirements would remain and become part of the new regulations which are projected to reduce emissions by nearly 21 megatonnes by 2030. (Source: CBC News, 20 Dec., 2020)
More Low-Carbon Energy News Canada Clean Fuel Standard,
"Greenpeace recently obtained leaked strategy documents advising industry to push back against measures such as the federal clean fuel standard that prompts a switch to low-carbon fuels by setting limits on greenhouse-gas emissions from fossil fuels. To meet it, fossil-fuel suppliers can buy or generate credits by offering low-carbon alternatives, like biofuels from waste organics or electric-vehicle charging stations. The clean-fuel-credit market is expected to attract investment in low-carbon fuel production and distribution in Canada.
"It's a smart move as the government looks to support economic recovery. Clean-fuels investments generate employment. Clean Energy Canada estimates the regulation could spur the need for up to 31,000 skilled workers to build, operate, and supply new facilities.
Navigator, the PR firm engaged to develop an action plan to counter the clean-fuel standard, advises its unnamed clients to use a "counter-punch strategy" -- to pay lip service to government's climate agenda, wait for the clean-fuel-standard announcement, then orchestrate a hard push-back. Part of the scheme is to convince Canadians that "fighting climate change is a losing battle" by arguing action is too costly. It's dishonest. Energy companies -- and the politicians they're seeking to influence -- know Canada must decarbonize the fuel supply to reduce GHG emissions.
"All the major federal political parties have pledged to meet or exceed Canada's 2030 targets. The clean-fuel standard is projected to reduce annual GHG emissions by 30 million tonnes by 2030 -- equivalent to taking 7 million cars off the road and accounts for 15 pct of Canada's current emissions-reduction target -- more than can be achieved with any other single climate-policy instrument.
"B.C.'s (British Columbia) low-carbon fuel requirement has been in place since 2010 and is credited with delivering one-quarter of B.C.'s emissions reductions between 2007 and 2012 with limited impacts to consumers' pocketbooks. As part of its CleanBC plan, the province recently announced further reductions to the carbon intensity of transportation fuels over the next decade using this instrument. California, Oregon, and the EU have parallel policies. Their experience shows that a clean-fuel standard can reduce emissions, drive innovation, and increase renewable alternatives availability.
"Too often, industry opposition to environmental policies isn't driven by facts but by vested interests. Climate action is in everyone's interest. Government must stand firm on the policies needed to achieve timely emissions reductions. The sooner Canada adopts its clean fuel standard, the better."
Download the UN Emissions Gap Report 2019 HERE.
(Source: David Suzuki, Suzuki Foundation, The Straight, 20 Oct, 2020) Contact: Suzuki Foundation, David Suzuki, 604-732-4228, www.davidsuzuki.org
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The move would require refiners to blend cleaner ethanol and other renewable fuels with gasoline and fossil fuels under a Clean Fuel Standard aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30 million tonnes by 2030. The requirement would come into force in 2022, according to the Reuters report. Presently, Canada imports about 40 pct of the ethanol it uses. (Source: Canada Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Reuters, 11 Sept., 2020) Contact: Canada Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Hon.Jonathan Wilkinson, 613-995-1225, Jonathan.Wilkinson@parl.gc.ca
More Low-Carbon Energy News Low-Carbon Fuel, Biofuel, Ethanol, Biodiesel, Biofuel Blend, Clean Fuel Standard,
Under the plan, Manitoba will increase the ethanol content requirement of gasoline to 10 pct from 8.5 pct, and the biodiesel content of diesel to 5 pct from 2 pct. (Source: Office of Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister, Government of Manitoba, 28 January , 2020) Contact: Office of Premier Brian Pallister,
204-945-3714,
Fax - 204-949-1484, premier@leg.gov.mb.ca
More Low-Carbon Energy News Biofuel Blend, Clean Fuel, Ethanol, Biodiesel,
Under the proposed low-carbon fuel standard, biofuel suppliers could meet their low-carbon obligations by paying an "alternative assessment" that could add between $48 million and $193 million to the state's coffers in its first year.
(Source: Chinook Observer, Capital Press, Jan., 2019)
Contact: Office of Washington State Gov. Jay Inslee, Communications Office, Tara Lee, (360) 902-4136, www.governor.wa.gov
More Low-Carbon Energy News Low-Carbon Fuel, Jay Inslee, Clean Fuel Standard,
Transportation emissions reportedly account for roughly 40 pct of the region's emissions.
(Source: Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, Public News Service, 17 Oct., 2019) Contact: Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, Craig Kenworthy, Exec. Dir., 206-343-8800,
206-343-7522,
www.pscleanair.org/528/Clean-Fuel-Standard
More Low-Carbon Energy News Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, Renewable Fuel,
Collectively, the associations say they represent technologies that can, with the right policy measures in place, exceed the proposed federal Clean Fuel Standard's objective of 30 Mt of annual GHG emission reductions by 2030.
To that end, the associations are calling on the Canadian federal government to adopt a Clean Fuel Strategy by 2020. The strategy would include setting a clear path to clean and renewable fuel use by 2030 by: establishing clear market signals for clean fuels and electric vehicles; aligning clean and renewable fuel regulations to meet targeted clean fuel and EV use; establish clean fuel program funding to support clean and renewable fuel production capacity and infrastructure investments, and support EV adoption; and
Support research and development programs to maintain Canadian leadership in clean fuel technologies and innovation. (Source: Wood Pellet Association of Canada, Biomass Mag., Sept., 2019) Contact: Wood Pellet Association of Canada, www.pellet.org; Canadian Biogas Association, (613) 822-1004, www.biogasassociation.ca; Advanced Biofuels Canada, Ian Thompson, Pres., (604) 947-0040, ithomson@advancedbiofuels.ca, www.advancedbiofuels.ca
More Low-Carbon Energy News Advanced Biofuels Canada, Canadian Biogas Association, Wood Pellet Association of Canada, Clean Fuel, Biofuel,
The Wood Pellet Association of Canada (WPAC) has been providing input to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) as it works to design and shape the CFS. And, upon review of ECCC's proposed regulatory approach, WPAC is seriously concerned that the government will not allow end-use fuel switching in the buildings/stationary fuel use sector.
WPAC believes it is unfair for ECCC to recognize fuel switching from gasoline to electricity or hydrogen in transportation, but not to recognize switching from heating oil to solid biofuels -- wood pellets or chips -- for Canada's second largest renewable energy product -- solid biomass heating. To that end, WPAC made the following representations to ECCC:
In addition to the existing carbon tax regime, the Liberal government aims to make the heating and transportation fuel supply cleaner to reduce carbon emissions and help Canada meet targets set under the Paris Climate Agreement.
According to a government backgrounder, fossil fuel suppliers will be able to meet the performance standard by "taking action themselves" to make fuels cleaner -- through improvements to the refining process, for example, or by purchasing credits from low-carbon-intensity fuel producers and other credit generators.
(Source: CBC News, Various Media, 8 July, 2019)
More Low-Carbon Energy News Vehicle Emissions, Clean Fuel Standard, Paris Climate Agreement, Clean Fuel,
Inslee's proposal is designed to accelerate the innovation and efforts already underway across the economy to transition to 100 pct clean energy, construct ultra-energy efficient buildings, establish a clean fuel standard, electrify the state's transportation system and phase down super-pollutants in certain products -- all of which would reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Washington state to 25 pct below 1990 levels by 2035. To achieve that goal, the state needs to further reduce emissions by nearly 16 million metric tpy, according to a release. The transition to 100 pct clean energy would place Washington among the first states to end all coal-fired electric power consumption by 2025, transition toward carbon neutral electricity in 2030, and lay the groundwork to eliminate all fossil fuels in electricity generation by 2045.
Inslee is also calling for a 40 pct increase in the state's Clean Energy Fund, a comprehensive clean energy and energy efficiency building package; a clean fuel standard; support for electric vehicles and EV charging infrastructure; and a reduction in the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) -- a super-pollutant that is thousands of times more damaging than carbon.
(Source: Office of Washington State Governor Jay Inslee, PR, The Hill, 10 Dec., 2018) Contact:
US Climate Alliance, www.usclimatealliance.org; Office of Washington Sate Gov. Jay Inslee, Communications Office, Tara Lee, (360) 902-4136, www.governor.wa.gov
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The plan builds on the amended Ethanol in Gasoline & Greener Diesel regulations that will come into effect on Jan. 1, 2020.
Download details of Canada's Clean Fuel Standard HERE. (Source: Prov. of Ontario, Farm Progress, 3 Oct., 2018) Contact: Advanced Biofuels Canada, Ian Thomson, Pres.,
(604) 947-0040, info@advancedbiofuels.ca, www.advancedbiofuels.ca
More Low-Carbon Energy News Advanced Biofuels Canada, E15, Biofuel, Biofuel Blend,
Modelling by a number of CFS stakeholders shows that a minimum of two-thirds of the compliance for the 2030 CFS target can be met with liquid fuels. This significantly lowers the potential cost of compliance with the gaseous and solid fuels CFS components for Canada's industrial sector. In addition, there is considerable positive economic growth that will be realized by investments in clean fuel production and use.
Transportation fuels make up 80 pct of the liquid fuels used in Canada, and their climate change emissions are rising. Many in the industrial sector see the rationale for Canada to largely follow the design of low carbon fuel standards successfully operating for almost a decade in British Columbia and in California.
Download the Canadian clean fuel standards regulatory framework
HERE. (Source: Advanced Biofuels Canada, PR, 28 August, 2018) Contact: Advanced Biofuels Canada, Ian Thomson,
(604) 947-0040, info@advancedbiofuels.ca, www.advancedbiofuels.ca
More Low-Carbon Energy News Advanced Biofuels Canada, Canada Clean Fuel Standard, Biofuel,