Petroleum fuel and its combustion by-products are made up of many toxic components that directly threaten the health and welfare of Californians.1 Although there has been general acceptance for decades that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from petroleum products and smog from internal combustion engines are harmful, an overwhelming volume of scientific research has now been completed, particularly in the past five years, which actually quantifies the human health harms associated with such products. Health harms associated with automobile emissions, and the production and distribution of gasoline and other petroleum fuels include a range of cancers, asthma and respiratory illness, heart and blood problems, reproductive and fetal development harms, nervous system toxicity, and early death.2 Dependence on oil and petroleum fuels for our energy needs not only endangers human health, but also threatens national security, the economy, and the environment with significant impacts to flora, fauna, air, water, and natural habitat due to leaks, spills, emissions, and discharges of petroleum-related toxins.3 In addition, California's economy and its citizens have been suffering the effects of over-dependence on oil, enduring wild fluctuations in gas prices, supply availability, and now direct threats to our safety due to the volatile geo-political nature of the international oil economy. Since California is the fifth largest economy on the planet and its citizens drive more vehicle miles per person than any other state or nation, addressing these issues in California first will likely have significant impacts on the U.S. and the world.
THE SOLUTION - Advanced technologies and clean, renewable, domestically sourced fuels are available today Better transportation planning, smarter vehicle design, and use of domestically-sourced fuels produced from renewable sources can help drastically reduce our dependence on foreign oil, insulate our economy from oil-based market spikes, create and expand business opportunities for California’s farmers and industries, and protect public health. Hydrogen is well suited as an energy carrier and could play a critical role in a new, stable and decentralized energy infrastructure that could provide power to vehicles, homes, and industry.4 Hydrogen can be safely handled, is non-toxic, has the highest energy content of any known fuel, and can be produced from clean, renewable sources.5 Hydrogen is ideal for powering fuel cells: highly efficient energy conversion devices that are already powering cars, buses, buildings, and portable electronic devices.6 Fuel cell and hydrogen production technologies have been developing rapidly and are poised to enter the marketplace.7 Every major vehicle manufacturer in the United States, Asia, and Europe has practical fuel-cell powered cars, trucks, and/or buses in development, but is constrained by the lack of hydrogen fueling infrastructure.8 Addressing this will help hydrogen and fuel cells to realize their very real promise of a clean transportation and energy future for California and the world. Biofuels, such as biodiesel and ethanol, can be produced from domestically-grown agricultural products like soy, corn, and sugarcane, or extracted from waste products like used cooking oil or wood wastes. Biofuels are energy rich and are the only fuels available which deliver more energy than they require to produce.9 Biofuels are highly compatible with today’s vehicle technologies, requiring few to no modifications to the vehicle. Use of advanced vehicle technologies like hybrids and plug-in hybrids will not only be instrumental in reducing fuel consumption without compromising performance, but are also critical to the development of other vehicle technologies. Hybrid vehicles supplement the power of a car’s existing internal combustion engine with a battery-powered electric motor. The vehicle uses the electric motor to accelerate before switching over to the engine, which results in reduced fuel consumption and lower emissions. The battery recharges by capturing energy generated when the vehicle brakes. Because electric motors provide superb low-end torque and acceleration, and because they produce no emissions, these are ideally suited for the stop and go driving of urban conditions. Plug-in hybrids operate on the same principles as hybrids; however, plug-in hybrid vehicles (PiHVs) can run for longer periods (up to 60 miles) on the battery-electric motor alone. PiHVs not only capture energy from vehicle braking, but can also draw power from a standard electrical outlet. This allows PiHVs to achieve even greater reductions in emissions and fuel consumption. Mass-transit is also a key solution to achieving significant petroleum reductions. While most commuters’ travel needs can be met through existing local mass-transit, commuter rail offers a means to move from transit district to transit district. Taken together, these solutions can provide relief from the damages resulting from California’s dependence on petroleum. However, none of these solutions are silver bullets; each has issues which must be adequately addressed before implementation
THE STRATEGY - Develop and implement innovative, action-oriented solutions to catalyze a rapid transition to a clean, renewable energy and transportation economy in California through policy, advocacy and research. We currently do this by: developing public-private partnerships to build our hydrogen economy; initiating and supporting efforts to expand the distribution and use of biofuels; expedite the deployment of advanced vehicle and fuel technologies; and actively participate in local efforts to allocate greater and more equitable funds for alternative modes of transportation like transit, pedestrian, and bicycling routes. Everywhere across California, the nation, and, indeed, the world, people are looking for ways to meet their daily transportation needs in an economical and sustainable way. Energy companies are facing the reality that dependence on fossil fuels is risky as supplies are dwindling, extraction costs are climbing, refinery capacity is strained, and the environmental and socio-political costs of these fuels are becoming untenable. Meanwhile, auto manufacturers can meet consumer's demands with highly-efficient, ultra-clean vehicles. Finally, local, state, and federal governments realize that unsustainable transportation methods are a leading cause of many problems and are looking to move towards a new future. A strategy is needed that brings all of these groups together to leverage each of their individual resources to begin putting solutions on the road today. The primary objective of the Energy Independence Now (EIN) campaign is to transition California to a clean, renewable, multi-modal transportation economy as quickly as possible. Hydrogen: EIN co-led the development of the California Hydrogen Highway Blueprint Plan called for by Governor Schwarzenegger in Executive Order S-07-04 and is serving as Strategic Advisor to the California Air Resources Board on the implementation of this Plan. To do this, EIN collaborates with the various companies, public agencies and potential consumers that will make the hydrogen economy a reality. This public/private partnership has identified and addressed the hurdles to the creating a hydrogen economy in California, and is working to act upon recommendations from the Blueprint Plan on timing, infrastructure siting, roll-out strategy, policy and regulatory options, incentives, financing options, public education, and more. EIN is also making efforts to ensure that hydrogen distributed in California for transportation applications is produced in a clean and sustainable manner. Towards that goal, EIN has partnered with the Union of Concerned Scientists to sponsor California Senate Bill 1505. The bill - authored by Senator Alan Lowenthal of Long Beach and co-authored by Assemblymembers Fran Pavley of Woodland Hills and Ted Lieu of El Segundo – would set goals for reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases and criteria pollutants for transportation hydrogen in California. The bill would also require a defined percentage of hydrogen be produced from renewable sources. For more information on SB1505, please click here. Biodiesel: EIN has sponsored California Senate Bill 1675, the California Renewable Diesel Standard. The bill is authored by Senator Christine Kehoe of San Diego. If enacted, diesel fuel sold in California will be required to contain a minimum and increasing percentage of renewable diesel. Specifically, the bill calls for all diesel to be composed of 2% renewable diesel by 2008, then increase to 5% by 2010. For more information on the California Renewable Diesel Standard, please click here. Plug-in Hybrids: EIN will be working with the leading developers of PiHV technology to enact a strategy for introducing these vehicles to California's roads and expediting their delivery to market. Sustainable Transportation Planning: EIN is a member of the Coalition for a Fair Measure D in Santa Barbara County. The Coalition's goal is to ensure that the reauthorization of Measure D provides increased and equitable funding for alternative modes of transportation including funds for increased bus service, commuter rail, bike lanes, pedestrian routes, and safe-routes-to-school. In addition to these specific efforts, EIN maintains its practice of monitoring and researching the automotive and fuels industries for developments which may enable short-, mid-, and long-term reductions in petroleum use.
1 See EIN fact sheet, "What
Toxic Air Pollutants are Produced by Petroleum-Based Fuels and
Combustion
Engines?"
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THE
PROBLEM - Over-Dependence on Petroleum Fuels is Harming California:
Our Health, Economy, Security, Communities, and Environment.