The first batch of data for the new Washington Clean Fuels Standard (CFS) has been made available by the Washington State Department of Ecology. So far, Ecology has published:
No credits were transferred in July after technical issues with the Washington Fuel Reporting Systems triggered a one-month delay in the first issuance of credits. However, 27,055 credits were transferred in August. The average price from the four reported trades was $106.66. The price of Washington CFS credits was about midway between those reported in CA ($77) and OR ($137) during the same month. Credits from one program cannot be sold in another.
Q1 2023 Credit and Deficits
Ecology reported 275k credits generated and 227k deficits generated, a net credit build of about 47k credits. Entities with compliance obligations do not have to retire credits until next year, and credits do not expire so they may be held indefinitely by market participants.
The largest source of credits was ethanol (75%), followed by renewable diesel (12.1%), biodiesel (11.8%), and electricity (10.8%). Credits from residential EV charging, which are separately calculated and issued by Ecology, have not yet been issued for Q1 or Q2.
The deadline for reporting fuel consumption for the Q2 2023 reporting period is today. Ecology has not yet set a publication schedule for reporting quarterly credit and deficit data.
Source: Washington Department of Ecology
What’s Next for the Washington CFS?
Ecology will create a zero-emission vehicle infrastructure or “capacity credit” program for public DC fast-charging and hydrogen refueling stations. Stations approved under this program may generate CFS credits based on the fueling capacity of those stations. Guidance on this program is expected to be released before the end of the year.
Ecology must also address the inclusion of alternative jet fuel pathways in the CFS after the passage of SB 5447. A rulemaking may be initiated as soon as this year or early next year.
The timeline for implementing changes to the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) became clearer last week. At an industry conference, California Air Resources Board (CARB) Executive Director Dr. Steven Cliff indicated a final proposal would be made available in the “November timeframe” with hopes of approval by next spring. The announcement came after the September 8 publication of the Standardized Regulatory Impact Assessment (SRIA).
Under this timeline. CARB could implement a mid-year adjustment to the 2024 carbon intensity targets, increasing compliance obligations for fuel suppliers. An even more significant adjustment or “step down” is being considered for the 2025 targets, as indicated in the SRIA. The document evaluated other significant changes to the program, including a target acceleration mechanism, the inclusion of intrastate fossil jet fuel as a regulated fuel, and the phasing out of biomethane and forklift crediting. However, Dr. Cliff reiterated that the SRIA, which precedes any formal rule-changes to be considered by the regulatory body which oversees the LCFS, “is not the final proposal. It’s not even the proposal.”
Source: CARB Standardized Regulatory Impact Assessment for LCFS 2023 Amendments
What To Watch For Next
Regulatory staff will present on changes to the LCFS at the September 28 CARB non-voting meeting. The next formal milestone will be the publication of a Rulemaking Package which starts the 45-day public comment period, after which CARB may adopt new provisions to the LCFS rules.
Source: CARB Staff Presentation at 9/14 EJAC Committee Tweet
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) held a workshop on August 16 to present updates to a model that assesses the feasibility and economic impact of proposed changes to the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). Although the workshop did not specifically address policy changes, the inputs of this model are suggestive of what CARB may put forward in formal rule changes coming later this fall.
Why is CARB making changes to the LCFS?
The last time significant changes to the LCFS were made was in 2018. Since then, the agency has workshopped several policy and procedural changes and received significant stakeholder and community feedback. During workshops held last summer, CARB presented a plan to align LCFS with several key climate policies, most notably the 2022 Scoping Plan, which was formally adopted in December 2022.
Key Program Changes
The model inputs included many of the policy changes that have been discussed at public workshops over the past 18 months and may hint at what the agency will propose later this year. Some of these changes are highlighted below:
Accelerating Carbon Intensity Targets
Carbon intensity, a measure of lifecycle emissions of a fuel, is used as a benchmark to compare gasoline, diesel, and other low carbon fuels such as biofuels and electricity. The benchmark decreases each year to meet the current target of 20% reduction from 2010 levels by 2020. As the benchmark decreases, conventional gasoline and diesel generate more deficits (i.e. greater demand for credits) which produces the long-term incentive for lower carbon fuels.
Reduction in CI Benchmark Over Time
CARB has proposed advancing the 2030 target to between 25% and 35% reduction, while adding a 2045 target of 90% reduction. The 2030 acceleration is significant because it would increase the demand for credits in the near term, depending in part on how the targets “step down” from their current levels in order to meet the new 2030 target. Proponents of steeper 2030 targets argue this will provide needed price support for the LCFS credit market which has significantly declined in recent years due largely to an oversupply in credits. Others caution that overly stringent targets would increase fuel prices and could undermine political support for the program.
In the latest iteration of the model, CARB included a 30% reduction target for 2030 with a significant step down between 2024 and 2025. While not an official proposal from CARB, it might indicate what the agency is ready to move forward with in the fall.
CI Adjustment Mechanisms
Source: California Air Resources Board
Phasing Out eForklifts
In previous workshops, CARB has proposed reducing and eventually phasing out credit generation from eForklifts. Staff discussed reducing the credit generation potential of lighter classes of forklifts and requiring electricity consumption to be metered. Forklifts are unique in that CARB allows for electricity consumption to be estimated. However, both the Oregon Clean Fuels Program and the Washington Clean Fuel Standard have recently required metering for electric forklifts in their programs. CARB’s latest model included a significant reduction in credits from forklifts, suggesting these changes are still on the table.
Verification Requirements for ElectricityCredits
In a previous workshop, CARB proposed requiring all participants generating credits from electric vehicles to go through an annual verification process. Electricity is the only major credit source where fuel consumption reporting is not required to be independently verified. Other programs, such as the Canadian Clean Fuel Regulations require verification for all fuel types.
Expanding Infrastructure Crediting to Medium/Heavy-Duty Vehicle Charging
Under the LCFS, some public fast-charging stations are eligible to generate credits based on the total capacity of the site, not solely on electricity consumption. CARB has proposed expanding these provisions to stations that provide charging to multiple medium and heavy-duty fleets. CARB’s latest model included credit generation from this pathway, suggesting that the agency is still considering this change.
What’s Next for LCFS?
During the workshop, staff shared an updated timeline which confirmed that formal changes to LCFS will not be considered for adoption until early 2024. However, the agency expects to move forward with the formal rulemaking process later this fall, and implement the changes “sometime in 2024.”
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) published quarterly program data for the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) on June 30, 2023 and announced another workshop for August 16 to discuss changes to the program.
Credit Bank Adds 1.3M Net Credits After Sluggish Q1
The cumulative credit bank, a measure of net credit generation over the lifetime of the program, grew for an eighth consecutive quarter and now stands at 16.5M credits. Deficits were down in Q1 (-3%), driven largely by a decline in gasoline volume (-9%). Credits from all sources (-6%) fell for the first time in 2 years driven in part by reductions in volume from electricity (-5%), biodiesel (-3%), and ethanol (-2%). Average carbon intensities (CI) were up across the major credit sources as well, including RNG (+21%), biodiesel (+8%), RD (+9%), and electricity (+3%). Finally, the more stringent CI targets for 2023 kicked in, which reduces the number of credits per unit of low carbon fuel when compared to 2022.
EV Credits Take a Step Back in Q1
Credits from electricity fell last quarter (-7%) for the first time since the COVID pandemic, driven primarily by a 12% decline in residential EV charging credits which are issued to utilities based on a formula. Credits also decreased across other categories including eForklifts (-1%), ocean-going vessels (-13%) and fixed-guideways (-11%). EVs still remain the second largest source of credits under the LCFS and among the fastest growing fuel type.
What’s Next for CA LCFS?
CARB scheduled a workshop on August 16 to present updates to their model that is used to assess the feasibility and economic impact of proposed changes to the program, including establishing more stringent 2030 CI targets. In the previous workshop held in May, CARB staff had reiterated their intent to initiate a formal rulemaking process to make changes to the LCFS by this summer, with a targeted implementation date of January 1, 2024.
CARB will release Q2 2023 program data by October 31, 2023.
The Pasha Group Partners with SRECTrade to Decarbonize through California’s LCFS Program
Pasha Hawaii’s LNG-powered George III on its maiden voyage to Honolulu in August 2023
SAN RAFAEL and SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Today The Pasha Group announced its partnership with SRECTrade to transition to low- and zero-emission equipment across its West Coast operations. The logistics and transportation services leader is partnering with SRECTrade to generate and monetize carbon credits from electric vehicles and equipment under the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS).
The Pasha Group has led the transition to renewable energy in the marine ports sector through many projects and initiatives over the last five years, through initiatives to retrofit forklifts, drayage trucks, terminal tractors, and on-road EV trucks in California, the installation of dozens of charging stations, and a microgrid. The company has also conducted Terminal Equipment demonstration and prototyping projects in the Port of Los Angeles and serves on goods movement Technical Advisory Committees for the California Energy Commission. The Pasha Group and its partners have accomplished milestones in the marine port transition to clean energy such as approving and performing the first hydrogen refueling for a hydrogen powered vessel.
The Pasha Group continues to pave the way in electrifying ports with the support from incentives like LCFS, a market-based compliance program that provides ongoing funding to entities operating electric and hydrogen equipment. SRECTrade’s expert advisory and technology-enabled services make participation in complex compliance programs simple, rewarding, and transparent.
“SRECTrade is a valuable partner, providing our team with up-to-date information and opportunities to incorporate sustainability practices into our operations,” says George Pasha, IV, President and CEO. “Our partnership with SRECTrade contributes to our mission of moving forward as quickly as possible with our ESG goals.”
For companies still looking to benefit from clean fuels programs, The Pasha Group advises getting started now and working with a trusted partner like SRECTrade. To learn how much you can earn from clean fuel programs, contact SRECTrade at cleanfuels@srectrade.com.
About The Pasha Group
Established in 1947, The Pasha Group is a family-owned, third-generation diversified global logistics and transportation company that provides ocean transportation for containers and rolling stock between the U.S. West Coast and Hawaii; port processing services for finished and privately owned vehicles; stevedoring for vehicles, breakbulk and container cargos; auto hauling services with its truck fleet throughout the contiguous U.S.; domestic and international relocation services; and international logistics management for general commodity and project cargoes.
About SRECTrade
As the leader in environmental commodity management, SRECTrade provides full-service management and transaction solutions across a variety of renewable energy and clean fuel programs. The company is the largest third-party manager of EV charging assets under the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard. SRECTrade’s parent company, Xpansiv, provides market infrastructure to rapidly scale the world’s energy transition. Xpansiv operates CBL, the largest spot exchange for environmental commodities, including carbon credits and renewable energy certificates.
Tags: lcfs Posted in Low Carbon Fuel Standard | Comments Off on Global Logistics and Transportation Services Leader Paves the Way for Reducing Emissions in the Marine Ports Sector
The May 2021 Clean Fuels Market Update covers everything you need to know about clean fuel programs across the nation. Some highlights of our quarterly newsletter:
Q4 2020 saw California LCFS credit generation outpace deficit generation, with the credit bank increasing 4.8% between Q3 2020 and Q4 2020. (Note: LCFS credits are issued on a delayed quarterly schedule; the most recent credit issuance was on April 1 for fuel consumption in Q42020)
Electricity as a fuel has been increasing in its market share, aside from the dip at the beginning of the pandemic in Q1 2020
Steady credit pricing for the California LCFS in Q1 2021, with some fluctuation in Q2 2021 as credit prices dipped as low as $173 between March and April, far from its historic highs of $202 per credit.
Oregon CFP now allows the use of renewable energy credits (RECs) to claim zero-carbon electricity
Washington state is the next state to adopt a clean fuels program, aiming to reduce transportation emissions by 20% by 2035, with 2017 as the baseline
Federal, state, and regional grant programs available in California and across the country as regulators push for the transition to zero-emission vehicles and equipment
Learn about Fast Charging Infrastructure (FCI) crediting and how LCFS credits can lower your capital expenditure in DCFCs
We are happy to announce the launch of the SRECTrade LCFS Credit Calculator app to model your clean fuel vehicle’s annual credit allowance and projected value in the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) program.
Once downloaded, follow three simple steps to build a model of your estimated annual gross value from LCFS credit sales.
The app allows you to share your model results via automated email and easily connect with SRECTrade directly from within the app if you have further questions or want to find out more about our management and software services.
2019 has proven to be a dynamic year in the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard (CA LCFS) market. The beginning of the year brought the implementation of a new rule making followed by continued growth in a variety of low carbon fuels including Renewable Diesel, Ethanol, Electricity and others. Credit pricing remained strong throughout the year and in Q4 2019 spot pricing experienced sustained levels over ~$200 per credit. The enclosed update provides highlights on news impacting the market, a recent price trend overview, and a closer look at the Q2 2019 credit and deficit report by fuel type. Q3 2019 credit issuance is just around the corner and we look forward to continuing to work with market participants in the new year.
SRECTrade offers LCFS credit management and brokerage services to electric vehicle (EV) fleet operators, OEMs, EV charging station owners, and other clean fuel asset owners. We help our clients navigate the entire LCFS process including asset registration, ongoing reporting requirements, transacting, settlement, and remittance of funds. Our domain expertise in environmental commodity markets allows us to provide our clients with industry leading regulatory and market knowledge. Please reach out to cleanfuels@srectrade.com for more information.
