Gas prices in California may soon see an increase as the state pushes to meet ambitious carbon emission reduction targets.
On Friday, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) will vote on an update to the state’s clean air rules, specifically the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). The move is part of California’s broader effort to cut carbon emissions to nearly half of 1990 levels by 2030, a goal set by Governor Gavin Newsom.
To meet these targets, experts warn that gas prices could rise significantly. While CARB has not provided a new estimate for a price increase, its last forecast suggested a potential rise of 47 cents per gallon by next year. The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office has estimated that the increase could be as much as 20 cents per gallon.
As of Thursday, gas prices in the Bay Area were already high, with Alameda County averaging $4.64 per gallon, San Francisco at $4.81, and Santa Clara County at $4.56. Statewide, the average price was $4.25, while the national average stood at $3.11.
When asked whether the state was using high gas prices as a strategy to reduce consumption, CARB Chair Leanne Randolph clarified that the goal was to encourage the use of lower-carbon alternatives.
“Fossil fuels have a higher carbon intensity, so fossil fuel producers must take steps to comply with the regulation,” Randolph said. “These steps will lead to a wider variety of fuels and help lower carbon emissions across the transportation sector.”
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