Oregon Clean Fuel Standards

The Oregon Clean Fuel Standards provide an incentive for low carbon fuels sold in Oregon. The Clean Fuel Standards require an annual average carbon intensity (CI) that a regulated party must comply with. There is a standard for gasoline and gasoline substitutes and one for diesel and diesel substitutes. The Oregon Clean Fuels Program is one of the state’s most successful policies for addressing the state’s contribution to global climate change. This program has made significant strides since it began in 2016, reducing almost 6 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions and displacing over 1 billion gallons of fossil fuels. The baseline year for the program in 2015 was 10% ethanol blended with gasoline and 5% biodiesel blended with diesel. The rule requires a 10% reduction in average carbon intensity from 2015 levels by 2025. Regulated parties in the Clean Fuels Program are importers of gasoline, diesel, ethanol, and biodiesel. The program is implemented by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).

The Clean Fuel Standards are similar to the California LCFS. The CI is calculated with an Oregon GREET model and fuel producers must register for approved carbon intensities based on operating data. the DEQ is proposing changes to the program that is similar to the LCFS including mechanisms to incorporate verification into various parts of the program; updating the models used to determine the carbon intensities of fuels and considering including additional sources of credit generation in the program. In areas such as RIN and LCFS credit evaluation, municipal energy planning, bioeconomy due diligence, climate change analysis, bio-litigation support, and techno-economic analysis, these types of experts are valuable.

Large renewable energy and biochemical consulting firms like Lee Enterprises Consulting will certainly have experts in clean fuel standards. They also offer a wide range of services in the general areas of biofuels, biochemicals, biotechnologies, biomaterials, synthetic biology commercialization, and feedstocks, and will have specialized business and financial services like due diligence, feedstock availability, government grants and loans, and bio market research.  A big consulting group like this should also offer technical and engineering-related services like techno-economic analysis, environmental evaluations, feasibility studies, risk analysis, and expert witness engagements, and have solid strategic partnerships in place to assist clients with insurance, legal, accounting, plant fabrication, feedstock procurement.   With over 150 experts worldwide, Lee Enterprises Consulting has experts in many specific clean and renewable areas. Look at our experts and the services we provide.  Most of our experts are also available to advise and serve as expert witnesses in bioeconomy litigation matters.  For the larger projects, we specialize in putting together full-service, interdisciplinary teams with one point of contact.  See a video about LEC here.  Call us at 1+ (501) 833-8511 or email us for more information.

See also:  Washington State Climate Standards.