SALEM, Ore. (March 12, 2015) —Today Oregon Governor Kate Brown signed SB 324, making the state’s Clean Fuels Program permanent. The law authorizes the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission to develop low carbon requirements for gas and diesel fuel, with the goal of reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions by 10 percent by 2020.
Below is a statement from Adrienne Alvord, the Union of Concerned Scientists’ Western States Director. The Union of Concerned Scientists has been involved in federal and state clean fuels policies for many years, including the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard which is operating successfully.
"Oregon’s Clean Fuels Program will help the state create new industries and jobs from homegrown fuels and diversify fuel supplies to reduce our reliance on price-volatile imports. Catalyzing production of clean fuels—such as advanced biofuels and electricity—is an important step to cleaning the air, improving public health, and reducing the state’s global warming pollution.
“The Clean Fuels Program is a stable, science-based policy framework that invites clean fuels innovators to do business in Oregon. By recognizing the value and benefits of clean alternatives to oil, we can expect to see Oregon using more clean fuels and driving down associated production costs.”