A federal clean fuel standard (CFS) for the USA
Clean fuel standards (CFSs) are regulations which reward or penalise transport fuels based on their lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions — in particular, their emissions with respect to a ‘compliance standard’ which tightens each year. A number of CFSs are already in operation around the world.
Our paper published in the journal Energy Policy examines a hypothetical CFS covering the USA’s road and aviation segments. We model two transport decarbonisation scenarios: one with an emphasis on road electrification, and the other with an emphasis on next-generation liquid fuels and CCS. Both are designed to be consistent with a net-zero-2050 target for the USA’s economy as a whole, with road transport achieving a 87-94% carbon intensity cut and aviation ∼84% (excluding contrails). The electrification-heavy scenario offers faster and deeper emissions cuts, as well as being a significantly cheaper decarbonisation option.
The development and results of these scenarios provide context for considering CFS design issues: the ambition of targets, how to drive investment, and the need for restrictions on certain biofuel feedstocks.
