January 20, 2009: New Report Finds Plug-in Electric Cars Can Lower Global Warming Emissions, Oil Consumption and Unhealthy Air Pollution

DETROIT, Mich.—Increasing America’s use of  plug-in electric and plug in hybrid cars would dramatically reduce emissions that cause global warming and air pollution and would curb our dependence on oil, according to a new white paper released by Environment Michigan (Plug-in Cars: Powering America toward a Cleaner Future, PDF).

State Representative Lee Gonzales (D-Flint), UAW Local 900 President Anderson Robinson, Shelley Vinyard of Environment Michigan, and Monica Patel of the Ecology Center participated in a press conference to introduce the report at the North American International Auto Show at Cobo Hall in Detroit today.

"It is critical that Michigan fully harness the power of plug-in hybrid vehicles by passing policies such as a low carbon fuel standard," said Representative Gonzales."This legislation can provide strong policy incentives for plug-in and electric vehicles while setting standards for cleaner fuels, promoting renewable energy and creating green manufacturing jobs in our state," he continued.

Environment Michigan Press Release
See WNEM CBS 5 Detroit's coverage:

November 17-19, 2009: Midwestern Governors Association's Energy Steering Committee Meeting; Calgary and Fort McMurray, Alberta

To further the objectives of its Energy Platform, the Midwestern Governors Association (MGA) established an advisory stakeholder group to develop a model LCFS framework for the region. The first in-person meeting of the Low Carbon Fuel Standard Advisory group took place on November 17-19 in the Canadian Province of Alberta. There, the group began the process of tackling the following objectives:

• Create a framework and incentives for development of, and demand for, low carbon fuels in the Midwest;
• Decrease the GHG intensity of transportation fuels;
• Take advantage of our agricultural and industrial strengths to benefit our regional economy while protecting our natural resources; and
• Complement other policies focused on improving transportation efficiency and reducing GHG emissions in the region.
  

During the trip, advisory group members flew north from Calgary to Fort McMurray, where they toured the Suncor Firebag oil production site and Shell/Albian Muskeg River oil sand mining project, as well as visited tailings ponds (see photo) and land reclamation sites. See the MGA LCFS Advisory Group Site: Low Carbon Fuel Standard

October 7, 2009: Midwest Clean Energy Proposal Sets New, High National Standard, Groups Say

DETROIT, MI — A blueprint for making robust investments in clean energy and energy efficiency — shaped jointly by utilities, environmental and farm groups, industry, labor unions, and state government — would catapult the Midwest ahead of other regions in generating economic development from technologies that combat global warming, according to observers of the Midwestern Governors Association's (MGA) Jobs and Energy Forum Wednesday. Click here for the Press Release.

In a teleconference today, State Representative Lee Gonzales announced his policy proposal to capitalize on Michigan’s strategic advantages by promoting low carbon fuels. By redirecting even a portion of the over $14 billion that leaves our state’s economy each year to import petroleum products, Michigan could boost its economy and become a leader in developing and using sustainable homegrown biofuels and advanced battery technologies. A new report by the Ecology Center and Environment Michigan evaluates the leading contenders in the alternative fuels race and finds that the key policy action to establish Michigan’s leadership role in this emerging market is enactment of a “Low-Carbon Fuel Standard.”

Moving Michigan Beyond Oil Report & Factsheet (PDFs) Press Release Press Release from Rep. Gonzales' office HB 5383: Low Carbon Fuel Standard (PDF)

July 30, 2009: Gov. Granholm, Michigan Climate Action Council Release Climate Action Plan with a Low Carbon Fuel Standard

LANSING, MI — Governor Jennifer Granholm's Executive Directive (2009-4), released today, reflects the unique consensus on Michigan energy policy reforms reached recently by a diverse group of leaders from manufacturing, automotive industries, utility companies, environmental groups, universities, and government.

The MCAC report included an initial inventory of biomass resources that supported both a 10% LCFS goal, as well as 10% biomass for in-state electric generation goal. See report and, in particular, pages J-3 through J-8.

• Environmental Coalition Press Release
• Full Report
• Transportation Section: Summary & Appendix (PDFs)

April 23, 2009: California Adopts Low Carbon Fuel Standard

New measure will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase use of alternative fuels. In general the utilities are strongly supportive, and now the autos are moving toward strongly supporting this at the federal level, so momentum is building. However, there has been some opposition from the corn ethanol industry due to indirect land use calculations.

• California Air Resources Board’s Press Release
• Staff presentations from the latest hearing

Moving Michigan Beyond Oil Report & Factsheet (pdfs)
Low Carbon Fuel Standard Factsheet (pdf)

Background Materials for LCFS Lobby Day
Sierra Club Michigan LCFS Issue Primer-Draft (pdf)
Sierra Club Position Statement (pdf)
Ecology Center / Sierra Club Lawmaker Discussion Guide (pdf)

Ecology Center Plays Role in Historic Passage of New Fuel Economy Standards

Biofuels: The Good, The Bad, The Low-Carbon

Michigan can grow biofuels the right way, Ecology Center's Charles Griffith in Detroit Free Press

Report Introducing a Low Carbon Fuel Standard in the Northeast Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management

Benefits of a Low Carbon Fuel Standard: Performance Based, Technology-Neutral Policy To Reduce Emissions from Transportation Fuel, Union of Concerned Scientists