Californians already pay the highest price for gasoline in the country, and some analysts estimate that proposed changes to the state’s low-carbon fuel standard could raise prices at the pump by as much as 65 cents per gallon.
The California Air Resources Board will vote in November on policy changes that would cut carbon emissions faster but raise costs for refineries.
Republican lawmakers are urging state regulators to delay the vote, saying it would increase prices at the pump.
California gas prices average $1.47 per gallon higher than the national average, mainly due to gas taxes, the highest in the country.
Some state lawmakers say new policies to lower carbon emissions standards would hurt ordinary residents.
“This will have a direct impact on the wallet. Is this the right time to actually move forward with this type of regulation? Or should we impose a little moratorium and let Californians breathe,” said Republican Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh.
Ochoa Bogh is one of 25 Republican lawmakers asking the California Air Resources Board to postpone the vote.
They accuse CARB of a lack of transparency and demand that the board make public the true costs and benefits of proposed changes.
“Postponing a vote will give Californians a chance to hear the message, see what’s going on and let them know, ‘Hey, we’re not okay with this,’” Ochoa Bogh said.
“If we have more aggressive standards, it will drive up costs even more, and if that happens, it will increase the costs we pay at the pump,” said Severin Borenstein, director of Haas’s UC Berkeley Energy Institute.
Last year, CARB itself predicted that the stricter standard would increase gas prices by 47 cents per gallon.
Other analysts believe this figure could be as high as 65 cents per gallon, but Borenstein says the cost is currently 8 cents per gallon and would not have a major impact.
“If they change the rules for some of those qualifications or make the standards more aggressive, we could see that having a bigger impact on fuels,” Borenstein said.
A spokesperson for CARB issued a statement that read in part: “The Low Carbon Fuel Standard is an effective climate and air quality program that has successfully reduced fossil diesel use in the state by 70% by encouraging the development of cleaner fuels that consumers more options.”
“In fact, we estimate that the program will reduce transportation costs by 42% over the next 20 years through more options that are also better for the environment and human health,” the statement said. “That is good for the consumer and good climate action.”
The board will vote on policy changes on November 8.
