Gov. Schwarzenegger Issues Statement on Air Resources Board's Adoption of Measure in Support of Ethanol, Renewable Transportation Fuel

SACRAMENTO, Calif., June 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The California Renewable Fuels Partnership today announces an important step in fostering greater use of renewable fuels in California, please see below comments issued by Governor Schwarzenegger yesterday with regard to actions taken by the California Air Resources Board.

"Today's decision by the Air Resources Board is an important step toward diversifying California's fuel supply with alternative and, in this instance, renewable fuels. While many alternative fuels exist in the market, ethanol is one that can be blended into today's gasoline with no change to our current cars. This action allows fuel providers to blend up to 10 percent ethanol into gasoline, while still ensuring we're meeting California's tough air quality standards.

"It is critical that government continue reducing barriers so that alternative fuels can increasingly penetrate our transportation fuels markets. Only then can we reduce dependency on oil and give our consumers a weapon against gas price increases while maintaining air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions."

Today at a meeting in Fresno, the California Air Resources Board adopted a resolution updating the predictive model for gasoline reformulation. The new model allows refiners greater flexibility to blend of up to 10 percent ethanol by volume to be sold in California provided they comply with all air quality regulations.