Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) is becoming an increasingly hot topic in the renewable fuels industry, especially as companies progress with construction of on-site carbon capture facilities. The energy industry is in the midst of a global decarbonization transformation as companies of all sizes pursue new opportunities such as CCS as a viable option to achieve their carbon reduction goals. With economic incentives like 45Q and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) identifying CCS as key to mitigating the impacts of climate change, the soaring demand for CCS shows no signs of slowing down. North America is currently the global leader, accounting for 50% of all active CCS projects with 16 commercial facilities currently Read More...
EPA’s Proposed Volume Standards for 2020, 2021, and 2022
On December 7, EPA announced their proposed annual rule establishing volumes for 2021 and 2022. The proposal also sets the biomass-based diesel volume for 2022. EPA is also proposing to reopen their 2020 final rule and adjust previously finalized volumes, citing the unanticipated and exceptional impacts of COVID-19 on the fuel market. Stakeholders have until 02/04/2022 to submit comments on this recent proposal, and a virtual public hearing via Zoom has been scheduled for 01/04/2022. In addition to proposed volumes and percentage standards, the proposed package of actions includes sections detailing: EPA's response to the ACE remand through a proposed supplemental standard Changes in the methodology used to calculate annual Read More...
Do You Have the Right California Low Carbon Fuel Standards Team?
In the first quarter of 2021, the Compliance Department at Christianson saw a slew of new validations for the CA Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) come across our desks. We also heard from many existing LCFS participants who were unsure of their reporting requirements under the new LCFS regulation. Having the right team is crucial to successful compliance. Do you have your LCFS compliance requirements covered? This team roster will ensure you do. 1. Staff – the most successful participants have made LCFS compliance part of their company culture. Training is provided so staff know their respective roles and responsibilities. To manage this, a smart participant will have a manager/CFO to oversee the program and a technical Read More...
RFS Compliance and Attestation Reporting Deadlines Reminder
In January, Christianson sent out a summary of the US EPA’s proposed compliance deadline extensions for the Renewable Fuels Standard. The final rule was released on April 1. While EPA decided to extend the deadlines for obligated parties and small refineries, it declined to move the deadlines for RIN producers and RIN owners. If you are registered as a RIN producer or owner it will be business as usual with your Q4 quarterly report submissions (which were due Mar. 31, 2021) and annual attest reports due June 1, 2021. Please reach out to our experts if you have further questions or if you need to engage us for your 2020 attest. For more information visit the EPA’s RFS Deadline Extensions webpage. Start planning for your three-year RFS Read More...
Oregon Releases Draft Rule for Verification Program
Our compliance experts work hard to identify and research new regulations and opportunities to keep you up to date with the ever-changing rules that guide our industry. Recently our compliance experts identified a new regulation that we wanted to introduce to you, the first draft of Oregon’s verification rules. On Friday, September 6, Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) released three draft rules. Two of the draft rules are updates and modifications to Oregon’s existing Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (Division 215) and Clean Fuels Program (Division 253). The third draft rule was the addition of Division 272, Third Party Verification. We would like to call your attention mainly to the Third Party Verification Rule at Read More...
Preliminary Draft of LCFS Regulations to be Posted Today
Over the last two years we have been following CARB through draft regulation documents, webinars and workshops, and numerous phone calls to arrive at a draft rulemaking document that will drastically change the LCFS program. At 5pm today, February 20th, CARB will release a preliminary draft of the proposed rulemaking documents which they note will cover a number of topics including: Revising the LCFS program carbon intensity targets and extending the program Allowing additional fuels and vehicle categories to participate in the program Incorporating a carbon capture and sequestration protocol Promotion of zero emission vehicle infrastructure Addition of a third-party verification of CI values and fuel transactions Read More...
C&A Hosts its Second LCFS Webinar
Christianson & Associates hosted its second in a series of webinars discussing the upcoming changes to California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). This webinar, held August 3rd, discusses the most recent LCFS changes presented by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) during their July 29th workshop. Since early in 2016, CARB has been working on updating the LCFS program. Developments include new pathway and carbon intensity modelling, regulatory changes, and a requirement for third-party verification of Fuel Pathway compliance and LCFS credits transactions. To present these changes, CARB has held a series of workshops at intervals throughout 2016 outlining the proposed changes and has allowed stakeholders the opportunity to Read More...
