“Our climate is changing before our eyes. The heat trapped by human-induced greenhouse gasses will warm the planet for many generations to come,” warned UN World Meteorological Organization Secretary-General Petteri Taalas in a statement on May 18, 2022. “Sea level rise, ocean heat and acidification will continue for hundreds of years unless means to remove carbon from the atmosphere are invented.”

Each passing day is a struggle against the clock in the fight against climate change , with continuous emissions increasing the already-heavy strain on the ozone layer. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in 2020, transportation made up 27% of the total United States greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, taking the lead over electricity and industry, and contributing to already-dangerous rising temperatures by putting out carbon dioxide emissions from petroleum-based fuel options. 

The Clean Fuels NY Coalition, led by the New York League of Conservation Voters, was formed to showcase the widespread support for New York State to create a clean fuel standard (also known as a low-carbon fuel standard) and reduce GHG emissions from the transportation sector, which accounts for 28% of overall state emissions according to the Climate Action Council’s draft scoping plan for implementing the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act..

Because only the federal government and California can require new vehicles to meet fuel efficiency standards , New York State must address the carbon intensity of wholesale fuels in order to provide incentives for moving to electric vehicles and reduce emissions from the millions of gas- and diesel-powered vehicles that will still be on the road for decades to come. 

A clean fuel standard (as proposed in A. 862-B/S. 2962-B ) requires transportation fuel suppliers to reduce the carbon intensity of their fuels by at least 20% by 2030 or purchase credits from clean fuel suppliers such that the carbon intensity of all transportation fuels used in the state is reduced by at least 20% by 2030, thereby creating a market for clean fuels, including electricity, and technology. The switch to low-carbon alternatives is a vital step in reaching the goals set out in New York’s Climate Leadership and Protection Act (CLCPA). New York isn’t the only state considering a clean fuel standard. CFS programs are already in place in California , Oregon , and Washington , and are being considered in Illinois, Minnesota, New Mexico, and other states. 

Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation around how a CFS would work. Let’s address the misconceptions and misrepresentations that are out there one by one.

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/05/18/costs-for-switching-from-coal-to-renewables-has-plunged-transitionzero.html  

https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/ny-state-of-politics/2022/03/16/conservation-groups-seek-final-approval-of-clean-fuel-standard  

https://www.crainsnewyork.com/op-ed/op-ed-new-york-should-adopt-clean-fuel-standard-meet-its-climate-goals  

NYLCV is the only statewide environmental organization in New York that fights for clean water, clean air, renewable energy and open space through political action. We're non-partisan, pragmatic and effective.

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