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Interactions between California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard and the National Renewable Fuel Standard

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  • Whistance, Jarrett
  • Thompson, Wyatt
  • Meyer, Seth

Abstract

This study investigates the economic interactions between a national renewable fuel policy, namely the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) in the United States, and a sub-national renewable fuel policy, the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) in California. The two policies have a similar objective of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but the policies differ in the manner in which those objectives are met. The RFS imposes a hierarchical mandate of renewable fuel use for each year whereas the LCFS imposes a specific annual carbon-intensity reduction with less of a fuel specific mandate. We model the interactions using a partial-equilibrium structural model of agricultural and energy markets in the US and Rest-of-World regions. Our results suggest the policies are mutually reinforcing in that the compliance costs of meeting one of the requirements is lower in the presence of the other policy. In addition, the two policies combine to create a spatial shift in renewable fuel use toward California even though overall renewable fuel use remains relatively unchanged.

Suggested Citation

  • Whistance, Jarrett & Thompson, Wyatt & Meyer, Seth, 2017. "Interactions between California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard and the National Renewable Fuel Standard," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 447-455.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:101:y:2017:i:c:p:447-455
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2016.10.040
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Bhardwaj, Chandan & Axsen, Jonn & Kern, Florian & McCollum, David, 2020. "Why have multiple climate policies for light-duty vehicles? Policy mix rationales, interactions and research gaps," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 309-326.
    4. Yang, Yi, 2018. "Improving estimates of subnational commodity flows in LCA for policy support: A US case study," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 312-316.
    5. Hu, Kejia & Chen, Yuche, 2019. "Equilibrium fuel supply and carbon credit pricing under market competition and environmental regulations: A California case study," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 236(C), pages 815-824.
    6. Mandegari, Mohsen & Ebadian, Mahmood & Saddler, Jack (John), 2023. "The need for effective life cycle assessment (LCA) to enhance the effectiveness of policies such as low carbon fuel standards (LCFS's)," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    7. Thompson, Wyatt & Gerlt, Scott & Dewbre, Joe H. & Effland, Anne B., 2020. "Rescuing the Decoupling Literature from Incomparable Chaos," 2020 Annual Meeting, July 26-28, Kansas City, Missouri 304366, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.

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