PA House Releases Clean Fuel Standard Proposal

A co-sponsorship memo has been filed in the state House that signals the pending introduction of a bill to establish a Clean Fuel Standard (CFS) in Pennsylvania. Representative Paul Takac (D-State College) will be the prime sponsor of the proposed legislation. The group reportedly initiating the Takac policy is The Transport Project who is a North American organization who advocates for developing a marketplace for gaseous fuels and fleets.

This follows a similar co-sponsorship memo filed last year by Senator Gene Yaw (Republican Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources & Energy Committee). Over the months since the Senate filing, PPA has been an active participant of a stakeholders group studying the potential impact of a Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) in Pennsylvania.

Low Carbon Fuel Standard / Clean Fuel Standard programs have been implemented in some U.S. states with many others having proposals actively being considered. The policy incentivizes lower carbon fuels like renewable diesel and biodiesel to come into the marketplace. An LCFS/CFS is viewed by some policymakers as a viable alternative to decarbonization compared to electrification.

The timing on when the House will formally introduce the  CFS bill is not clear. A decision has also not yet been made to introduce the bill in the Senate. Discussion with key Senate leaders has been ongoing. As things continue to unfold, PPA will expand its discussions with its members regarding the provisions such a bill. Much of the future of the energy and environmental policy within Pennsylvania will be impacted by the results of the November election. Pennsylvania is currently the only divided legislature within the country. The Republican controlled Senate has 25 out 50 seats up for election and the Democrat controlled House has all 203 seats up for election in November.