Sacramento, Calif. — Amid bipartisan calls for greater transparency regarding its upcoming vote on gas prices, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has scheduled a media briefing for Friday afternoon.
The announcement follows a letter from Republican lawmakers in Congress, sent to CARB on Thursday, urging a delay in the vote and demanding clearer communication about its impact on fuel costs. The letter, signed by several GOP House Representatives, centers on CARB’s upcoming November 8 vote, which will address changes to the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standards (LCFS) program. The board has acknowledged that the proposed update could lead to increased fuel costs for California drivers, who collectively own over 25 million gas-powered vehicles.
CARB initially estimated that the LCFS updates could increase fuel costs by as much as 47 cents per gallon. However, after making modifications to the proposal, CARB retracted that estimate and has since stated it will not issue a new analysis to assess the direct consumer impact. Energy policy expert Danny Cullensworth from the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy estimates that, with the update, gas prices could rise by an additional 65 cents per gallon by 2025.
“Perhaps the only thing more alarming than these exorbitant regulatory costs is CARB’s recent admission that it has no plans to reissue a regulatory impact analysis before implementing further LCFS changes,” the GOP lawmakers wrote. “Keeping such critical data from policymakers and the public undermines trust and raises concerns about the effectiveness of future LCFS initiatives.”
KCRA 3 has been actively seeking an interview with CARB for the past week and a half to clarify how the vote might affect California drivers. In response, CARB issued a series of statements, asserting that there is no historical link between LCFS and retail gas prices, despite a CARB FAQ document indicating that LCFS currently adds around 10 cents per gallon to consumer costs. CARB did not respond to repeated interview requests on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
Democratic leaders have joined Republicans in calling for transparency from CARB. “Like everyone else, I’m concerned,” said California Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas at an event in Salinas on Monday. “Transparency is key to understanding how decisions are made, and that’s why we’re watching this process closely.”
Governor Gavin Newsom, whose administration oversees CARB, has praised LCFS’s role in reducing the state’s dependency on oil and gas. However, when asked if he would direct CARB to release a new cost analysis, he stopped short of issuing any directive. “To the degree that they should provide more, I’m absolutely for more transparency,” he stated.
CARB’s vote on the updated LCFS program, expected soon, has led to increased scrutiny as consumers brace for potential changes in gas prices. Initially projected to raise prices by 47 cents per gallon, CARB has since declined to issue a revised estimate.
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