The Rising Influence of Rising Affluence

[Timothy Smith]

California regulators are expected to restore a first-in-the-nation climate change program that requires a 10% cut in carbon emissions on transportation fuels sold in the state by 2020.

The California Air Resources Board is expected to vote today on the clean fuel standard, which has survived a long legal challenge from fuel makers, particularly out-of-state refiners and ethanol companies who argued that transporting the fuels into California alone made them less competitive against in-state producers.

Oil producers say the standard will cost consumers much more in a state that already has some of the highest gas prices in the U.S. as the companies try to comply with the mandate or face being shut out of the market; supporters say the program will encourage greater use of cleaner biofuels and electric vehicles.

California regulators to restore emissions-cutting fuel rule
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