Life Cycle Associates conducts report on Clean Fuel Standard for Washington State

WA Clean Fuel Standard ReportLife Cycle Associates conducted an update of a 2009 analysis on the technical feasibility, costs and benefits, as well as job impacts of a Clean Fuel Standard for Washington State. The report titled A Clean Fuel Standard in Washington State: Revised Analysis with Updated Assumptions summarizes the assumptions, methodology and findings of this update to the 2009 analysis.

Original Analysis on a Clean Fuel Standard for Washington State

In an effort to meet Washington’s State Legislature goal to reduce state greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, Washington’s governor directed the Department of Ecology to assess the effectiveness of a clean fuel standard back in 2009. The rational being that the transportation sector is responsible for almost half of the state’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and reductions from vehicles and fuels are fundamental to achieving the state goals.

The resulting study concluded that volumes of alternative fuels would increase, petroleum consumption would decrease, state-level GHG emissions from transportation (as captured by assumed carbon intensity ratings and volumes) would decrease, and there would be a small mostly positive impact on the state economy relative to the business-as-usual projection.

Changes in Assumptions of the Original Analysis

Since the original analysis in 2009, a number of changes to the underlying assumptions have occurred, including:

  • Improvements in vehicle fuel economy
  • Reductions in projected vehicle miles traveled
  • Changes in fuel carbon intensity values
  • Changes in low carbon fuel availability
  • Emergence of new low carbon fuels

These changes had to be considered in the revised analysis.

Revised Analysis with Updated Assumptions

In 2014, Washington’s Office of Financial Management – directed by Governor Inslee’s Executive Order 14-04 – commissioned Life Cycle Associates to conduct an update to the earlier analysis reassessing the technical feasibility, costs and benefits, as well as job impacts of a clean fuel standard for Washington State.

Life Cycle Associates report titled A Clean Fuel Standard in Washington State: Revised Analysis with Updated Assumptions summarizes the assumptions, methodology and findings of this update to the 2009 analysis. To read the entire report and its findings, please click the report link above. Feel free to contact us for more information.

Date: December 15, 2014