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UC Experts Release Global Warming Blueprint

Friday, August 03, 2007

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 2, 2007 (KGO) (KGO) -- University of California experts released Thursday their blueprint for fighting global warming. It's their second report. The first one, in May, concluded the state's goals were ambitious, but attainable. The new report lays out how greenhouse gas emissions can be slashed.

With our cars lasting on average, 15 years, and low-carbon biofuels still being developed, change is coming slowly to a gas pump near you.

Prof. Alex Farrell, Energy & Resources, U.C. Berkeley: "We sell an enormous amount of fuel, 15 billion gallons of gasoline every year in California, and making a dent in 15 billion gallons takes a little while."

Alex Farrell is one of two University of California energy experts advising Governor Schwarzenegger on putting his global warming plan into action. He wants it law by 2010, and by 2020, carbon emissions cut 10-percent.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (May 19, 2007): "It empowers the customers of course to say no to these high fuel prices, to say hasta la vista baby."

The centerpiece, being copied in Congress and around the world, is a low-carbon fuel standard. It calculates the greenhouse gas footprint of all fuels sold in the state.

Then it gives energy producers a framework -- not a mandate -- to either reduce their emissions or buy credits from those who have. That way, energy under-achievers can buy time to retrofit equipment or explore new technologies.

The fuel standard aims to stimulate innovation and investment already underway.

Prof. Alex Farrell: "All around the Bay Area are all kinds of biotech companies that are developing better ways to make ethanol, but better biofuels as well."

At first, those biofuels will be blended with gasoline to work in today's cars. Then, as the low carbon fuel standard ramps up, we could see a new generation of even cleaner biomass fuels, plus plug-in hybrid cars and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Gas stations would be electric charging stations as well."

Specific rules for each industry are still evolving, but expect the pumps of the future to give us a choice beyond regular or premium -- fill it up with green gas.

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