The Clean Fuel Foundation recently hosted 15 congressional and regulatory staffers for an educational tour in Los Angeles. The tour focused on environmental justice issues and the emergence of new clean fuel markets like rail and SAF. California is already a leader in using biomass-based diesel and the state is adopting policies that will force decarbonization of rail, ports, and interstate air travel.
The tour began with presentations by Clean Fuels staff on federal and state policies. Cory-Ann Wind explained how California, Oregon and Washington state policies are creating markets for biodiesel and renewable diesel. She also highlighted Clean Fuels’ Trinity Study and how biodiesel can be used to address particulate matter emissions that contribute to environmental justice concerns.
Jose Quan from John Deere Intelligent Solutions Group explained how new technologies developed in California enable farmers to sustainably increase yields while optimizing efficiency, which provides environmental benefits.
The tour’s first stop was the Metrolink – Southern California Regional Rail Authority rail yard near downtown Los Angeles. A short bus tour showed how the facility operates and the steps they’ve taken to mitigate environmental impacts on neighbors, including noise and exhaust abatement projects. In a follow up presentation, Metrolink Sustainability Director Lisa Colicchio and others explained the challenges that rail systems face in meeting new regulations for diesel exhaust and how readily available biodiesel and renewable diesel can help today.
The tour’s second stop was at World Energy Paramount. Sponsors and other industry representatives participated in a roundtable discussion of current policy challenges. Then Gary Grimes of World Energy gave a presentation and narrative about the ongoing commercial development of SAF. Following a brief bus tour of the surrounding neighborhood to emphasize environmental justice issues, Gary conducted a tour of the facility to explain its operations and the company’s goals for SAF production.
The tour’s final stop was Titan Terminal, where Jaron Bentrude provided an overview and tour of the facility, explaining the role it plays in storing and distributing both feedstocks and finished fuels. Jaron highlighted the economic opportunity that Titan seized when it began to build the biodiesel market in California. 70% of their business now is handling biodiesel from the Midwest.
A total of 8 staffers from House offices, 6 from Senate offices, and 1 from EPA participated in the tour. Throughout the day, the participants maintained a robust conversation, asking very direct questions about environmental justice issues and development of policy. Several staffers on the tour had participated in a prior Foundation tour – or in the Iowa Biofuel Tour. Many others joined on the recommendation of a previous Foundation tour participant. The staffers all represented highly relevant congressional committees, including Agriculture, Transportation, Environment, Finance, and Energy committees.
Sponsors joining the tour included Foundation Board Director Michael Dolch of AGP, Jeffrey Cavanagh of Chevron REG; Kent Hartwig of GEVO; Jeramie Weller and Jerod Wolff of MNSP; and Joe Gershen of Western Iowa Energy and CABA. Joanie Daye of BASF joined the tour to learn more about the Foundation and to contribute the view of a catalyst provider.
info@cleanfuelsfoundation.org
