Policy | Policy Institute

Making Policy in the Absence of Certainty

by By Colin Murphy
October 27, 2023

Biofuels are an important tool to help decarbonize our transportation system, and their role will likely grow in coming years. New tax credits authorized under the Inflation Reduction Act are being finalized; these would offer significant incentives for the biofuel alternatives to conventional jet fuel, so-called “Sustainable Aviation Fuels” or SAF. But it’s not always clear how sustainable these fuels truly are, or whether they offer a significant GHG advantage over petroleum.

Biden Administration proposes strongest vehicle emission standards to date

April 24, 2023

Policy

When it comes to implementing policy to realize these targets, the federal government can look to California, a state that is already familiar with the complexities of implementing ambitious emissions reductions and clean vehicle targets.

California has passed the Advanced Clean Cars II rule – What’s next?

by Sara Schremmer
October 12, 2022

Policy

What's Happening

International acclaim recently poured in when the California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved the Advanced Clean Cars II rule (ACCII), a historic suite of regulations to address pollution from vehicles in California.

Governor seeks to address infrastructure shortcomings in new Executive Order

November 15, 2021

Policy

On October 20th, 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Executive Order N-19-21 to address infrastructure shortcomings resulting in supply chain bottlenecks.

Update on the fate of legislative bills

October 29, 2021

The 2021 Legislative session produced several notable sustainable transportation bills, some signed and some vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom. As the summer recedes into memory, it’s a good time to look at bills that came close to becoming law this year, and may return in 2022, perhaps in modified form.

Key environmental bills await Newsom's approval

October 09, 2021

California’s Governor Newsom is deliberating hundreds of bills, including several key policies to advance sustainable land use, bike safety, vehicle electrification, and accessibility.

Governor Jay Inslee vetoes a bill banning gas powered vehicles by 2030

May 14, 2021

Jay Inslee vetoed a bill from the Washington State Legislature that would have phased out gasoline powered vehicles requiring all light-duty vehicles sold, bought, or registered in the state to be electric by 2030.

California’s new economic recovery plan prioritizes Zero Emissions Vehicles

January 18, 2021

Governor Gavin Newsom is proposing a $4.5 billion economic recovery plan to kick off the 2021-2022 budget. Alongside helping Californians and small businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic, the proposed recovery plan will dedicate a third of the budget to the transition to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) by 2035.

Massachusetts will require all car sales to be EVs by 2035

January 04, 2021

As part of the commonwealth’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, the Governor of Massachusetts has released a plan to dramatically reduce carbon emissions over the next decade. A crucial component of that plan includes a requirement that by 2035, all new light-duty vehicle sales must be zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs).