Environmental groups take legal action against California for backing polluting biofuels

In Sacramento, California, several environmental groups have initiated legal action against the California Air Resources Board (CARB) regarding its recent updates to the state’s climate policy, particularly the low-carbon fuel standard. The lawsuits allege that CARB neglected to fully address the environmental consequences related to biofuels, which are promoted under this policy. The low-carbon fuel standard aims to minimize the environmental impact of transportation fuels and incentivizes reduced emissions from producers. The recent amendments by CARB were designed to enhance the state’s emission reduction targets, establish funding for zero-emission vehicle infrastructure, and phase out methane capture incentives from dairy farms. California has set ambitious climate goals, seeking to achieve carbon neutrality by the year 2045. This objective involves balancing the amount of carbon emissions released into the atmosphere with the emissions removed. However, in light of these objectives, environmental advocates argue that the continued support for biofuels, which they claim have adverse effects such as polluting local environments and competing with food production, contradicts the intent of the low-carbon fuel standard. One notable lawsuit, filed by Communities for a Better Environment, asserts that CARB failed to conduct a thorough analysis of the climate ramifications of utilizing biofuels sourced from both plants and animal waste. Another lawsuit, spearheaded by Food and Water Watch along with other organizations, centers on the pollution exposures that disproportionately affect low-income and Latino communities near methane capture facilities. The statement issued by Katherine Ramos, a program director at Communities for a Better Environment, highlights the detrimental effects on residents living near refineries, emphasizing that the CARB did not properly evaluate the consequences of an expanding biofuel industry. Environmentalists assert that the current policies, aimed at reducing carbon emissions, are inadvertently driving the proliferation of polluting biofuels that compromise environmental integrity. In response to the lawsuits, the California Air Resources Board has declined to comment specifically on the legal matters but noted the essential role of the low-carbon fuel standard in addressing climate change and promoting cleaner air. A spokesperson for the board, Dave Clegern, emphasized that these program amendments channel investments towards cleaner fuel alternatives and zero-emission infrastructures. As California continues to push forward with its legislative aims to deteriorate fossil fuel reliance, the evolving discourse around biofuels and their impacts on communities highlights a crucial intersection of environmental policy, equity, and public health.