Schwarzenegger calls for national low-carbon fuel standards

SACRAMENTO
February 21, 2007 12:31pm

Saying it would help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower the nation’s reliance on foreign oil, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday called for a national low-carbon fuel standard for transportation fuels.

California has its own standard based upon an executive order issued by the governor in January.

“This will reduce greenhouse gas emissions more than 13 million tons per year by 2020, which is like taking 3 million cars off the road," the governor says.

Mr. Schwarzenegger claims a national standard would reduce greenhouse gas emissions and America's dependence on foreign oil without requiring new government spending.

Other countries are adopting California's new standard. On Jan. 31, the European Union announced a new pollution standard for motor fuels that is virtually identical to California’s. The European Union's new standard will cut emissions by 500 million metric tons of carbon by 2020 -- equivalent to the total combined emissions of Spain and Sweden today.

“The low carbon fuel standard will more than triple the size of our renewable fuels market in California and put more than 7 million alternative fuel or hybrid vehicles on our roads by 2020 without any new government spending,” the governor says. “It's also great for our national security because we will be less dependent on foreign oil and less vulnerable to price shocks and instability beyond our borders.