Gov. Sets New Fuel Standards For California

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Jan. 18 - KGO -- How will California meet the Governor's new fuel standard goals? Energy experts agree it won't be easy, but the opportunity to work on clean fuels may create an economic boom for the state.

The challenge is a formidable one when you consider there are 24 million vehicles on California roads. Ninety-six percent of the fuel used is high-carbon content gasoline.

The governor is counting on research into alternative fuels and new vehicles that use them.

Severin Borenstein is Director of U.C.'s Energy Institute.

Severin Borenstein, U.C. Energy Institute: "I think California would benefit from having some research going on here that supports these sorts of initiatives. Having the expertise in the state gives us more access to it, gives policymakers more access to what are realistic goals."

Research is also underway in the eastern U.S. and in Europe. But California could prove to be a major magnet to attract the best talent.

Richard Norgaard, Ph.D., U.C. Energy and Resources Group: "We take the lead on stem cell research and researchers come to California. We take the lead on reducing greenhouse gasses from our fuels, and researchers come to California."

Dr. Norgaard says new technologies are expensive in the beginning and that may sting consumers for a while.

However, a U.C. study says developing that technology will create 20,000 new jobs.

Consumers already have jumped on the clean fuel bandwagon. Hybrid vehicles are no longer a novelty on the street.

Automakers are also leaping into fuel cell and hydrogen powered cars.

There has been plenty of buzz about ethanol, made from corn. However, experts say ethanol alone won't help California reach its goals.

Severin Borenstein, U.C. Energy Institute: "Ethanol itself doesn't reduce CO2 very much. The best calculations are that substituting with ethanol for gasoline reduces CO2 emissions by about 10 to 20 percent."

U.C. Berkeley and U.C. Davis are taking a pivotal role in supporting the governor's initiative. Energy experts are looking into unforeseen technical issues that will result from the wholesale shift to low-carbon emission fuels.

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