Supreme Court Greenlights California’s Clean Fuels Plan

WASHINGTON (June 30, 2014) – In a big win for the fight against climate change, the Supreme Court today declined oil and ethanol companies’ request to review a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that upheld California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS).  This fuel standard is one part of California’s broader clean energy plan (AB32) and aims to cut carbon emissions associated with the production of fuels used by cars and trucks.

Following is a statement by David Pettit, Senior Attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council:

“This is another case of Big Oil and Big Ethanol trying to avoid cleaning up their act.  Thankfully, the highest court in the land just rejected their dubious claims about California’s fuel standard. 

“Californians deserve better, cleaner fuels for their cars and trucks. The State’s fuel standard will provide those options, while also spurring jobs and innovation and cutting harmful pollution. As dirty fuel producers drag their heels, California is leading the way and will continue to do so.”

BACKGROUND:

In addition to cutting dangerous carbon pollution, LCFS aims to reduce dependence on oil and drive innovation of advanced fuels by incentivizing all fuel producers to reduce the carbon intensity of motor fuels sold in California. It includes performance-based standards that consider the entire production lifecycle of all fuel sold in California, regardless of its source. Big oil and ethanol claim California cannot set a standard to reduce the carbon emissions of motor fuels because, they allege, the state law imposes unconstitutional burdens on out-of-state fuel producers.

Last September, the Ninth Circuit Court sided with the State and other interveners, including the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), finding that the LCFS is not discriminatory toward out-of-state companies.  Oil companies and ethanol groups petitioned the Supreme Court for review in March 2014. By denying review of the case today, the Supreme Court remands the case back to District Court for trial. 

                                                                 Case -Related Links:

• April 2014: New Study: Overlooked Low Carbon Fuel Standard Benefits Put Money in Californians’ Pockets

• September 2013: Rocky Mountain Farmers Union v. Corey Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision

• September 2013: The Ninth Circuit Decides the California Low Carbon Fuel Standards Case

• June 2013: New Study Demonstrates Many Ways to Cut Carbon Pollution, Meet the Low Carbon Fuel Standard

• December 2012: NRDC Fact Sheet: Low-Carbon Fuel Standard: Helping California Break Its Addiction to Oil

• January 2012: Investing Clean Fuels Benefits Everyone (background on LCFS)