SECTION 1.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) Low-carbon transportation fuels are an important element of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction policy.
(b) E85 is a low-carbon transportation fuel typically constituted in California of 83 percent ethanol and 17 percent gasoline.
(c) The use of E85 enables the state to utilize more low-carbon fuels and facilitates the fulfillment of state policy objectives, including greenhouse gas emissions reduction, petroleum use reduction, fuel diversification, cost
savings to consumers, and a reduction in the carbon intensity of transportation fuels.
(d) E85 can only be utilized in flexible fuel vehicles. Flexible fuel vehicles are manufactured to run on conventional gasoline as well as E85.
(e) California has supported the use of flexible fuel vehicles as a measure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on petroleum.
(f) Through the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program (Article 2 (commencing with Section 44272) of Chapter 8.9 of Part 5 of Division 26 of the Health and Safety Code), the state has awarded $13,700,000 to develop a robust network of E85 fueling stations that can deliver E85 to flexible fuel vehicles.
(g) This network of E85 fueling stations has proven economically sustainable and is currently delivering significant greenhouse gas emissions and petroleum reductions to the state and significant cost savings to consumers.
(h) This network of E85 fueling stations increased sales of E85 between 2012 and 2017, demonstrating there are strong opportunities to achieve additional greenhouse gas emissions reductions.
(i) This network of E85 fueling stations includes many stations located in disadvantaged communities, where E85 is currently locally providing greenhouse gas emissions reductions at significant cost savings compared to conventional gasoline.
(j) Due to
the lack of an integrated E85 and flexible fuel vehicle policy, United States automakers are currently phasing down the sale of flexible fuel vehicle models in California.
(k) To reverse the decline of flexible fuel vehicles available to consumers and local and state government fleets, a state flexible fuel policy is necessary.