The EPA’s determination that global warming is a threat to public welfare is likely to see an official announcement on April 22nd, Earth Day. What this means is that the door is now open to regulations upon facilities and actions that generate large quantities of greenhouse gas emissions, such as coal-fired power plants.

The lesson for fuel users can be seen in a likely parallel. The economics of electricity from coal are going to change. In order to meet regulations, coal plants will need to add hardware and processes to clean up their emissions. In a plausible, but near the margin scenario, coal could become so expensive that other technologies become superior from a financial perspective. Coal will be too dirty to use.

To conclude the analogy, replace “coal” with “petrodiesel”. The solution for dirty, soon-to-be more expensive petroleum diesel fuels are alternative fuels like Blue Sun’s FUSION.

California’s Air Resources Board and their near complete Low Carbon Fuels Standard bring this hypothetical analogy solidly into reality. Dirty fuel’s cost will increase, leaving those who don’t promptly make a change in the dust.

Are questions starting to surface in your mind, like, Will this really happen? (Yes). How soon? (As early as 2011 in California). When will it hit my state or be a national policy? (2012 is a realistic estimate). How can I change? Now that is the right question.

Good driving,
Blue Sun