I attended the Argus Biofuels & Carbon Markets Summit in Napa Valley October 21-23 2019. Time flies. The last time I was at the gathering was 2015. Donald Trump had recently announced his candidacy riding down the now famous escalator in Trump Tower alongside Melania, while David Cameron was still entertaining the idea of allowing a Brexit referendum to “strengthen his power”. Hit “Fast Forward”. On October 2019 hit “Pause”. Reflect. What a turn of events!

Other things have occurred in more predictable ways. Take California’s climate change mitigation efforts – and specifically the LCFS (Low Carbon Fuels Standard), the State’s flagship Program aimed at decarbonizing the transportation sector. Back in 2015 the Program was emerging from years of vicious lawsuits, aimed at damaging and delaying it. The petroleum lobby was still doing its bit to attack and sabotage the policy (the so oft used phantom fuel argument). I clearly sensed that California’s legislators and regulators – backed by its citizens – would have the spine to stay the course. Unlike Congress and the EPA – whose actions have undermined the Renewable Fuels Standard (the federal biofuels program). I was right. Four years on, the LCFS is the gold standard. Industry relies on it to make investment decisions on low carbon fuels projects. Other jurisdictions are looking to emulate it. It is a bright spot in the midst of America’s depressingly weak stance on fighting climate change – but one that bodes well, as California typically leads the way when it comes to environmental legislation in the United States.