State must allow cheaper fuel blend

ASSEMBLY BILL 30

Henry Sanchez, an attendant at Sinclair Gas in L.A., cleans pumps in 2022. A group of California lawmakers plans to put forward legislation to OK use of a gasoline blend they say would lower costs 20 cents a gallon. Damian Dovarganes — The Associated Press

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Only 1 out of every 3 Californians believe that the American dream — you can get ahead if you work hard — remains true.

It’s not for lack of effort. Californians are working at a near-historic rate, and nearly every metric shows that the state’s economy is humming.

The issue, then — as touched on by both Assembly Speaker Rob Rivas and Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire in their welcome-back speeches last month — is that California has become too expensive. We have some of the highest gas, electricity and insurance costs in the country. These cost squeezes have real impacts. Many of our constituents just can’t afford to live comfortably in this state.

Our group of bipartisan assemblymembers and senators, the California Problem Solvers Caucus, is committed to advancing policies that will have a real impact on Californians in the immediate term. Our first proposal this legislative session would require the state to implement a new, cheaper fuel blend that could save drivers billions as soon as this year.

The fuel blend, called E15, is a cleaner and cheaper alternative to the fuel being used in California, and it is already authorized for use in the 49 other states.

The benefits are clear: E15 would reduce gas prices by 20 cents per gallon, according to researchers from UC Berkeley and the U.S. Naval Academy. That translates to an annual savings of $2.7 billion each year for California drivers. Not only would this new fuel blend save California drivers at the pump, it would improve air quality and reduce emissions. A study by UC Riverside found that the E15 fuel blend lowers particulate emissions — making it a win-win for the environment and public health.

The financial and environmental benefits of approving the E15 blend are clear and proven. In fact — thanks to the California Air Resources Board’s inaction — California is the only state in the country that doesn’t allow it.

For more than two years, the air board has inexplicably delayed its rulemaking for the E15 blend. Its refusal to approve the E15 blend has cost Californians more than $5 billion in fuel savings. It’s unacceptable that this unelected state board has stood in the way of a solution that could ease financial burdens and protect the environment.

Our bill, Assembly Bill 30, would require the board to approve the E15 fuel blend by July 1. If the board refuses to approve the fuel blend by that deadline, it would be allowed by default.

As elected legislators, each representing more than a half-million Californians, we cannot stand idly by while appointed bureaucrats drag their feet on a proposal that would provide immediate savings to our constituents. AB 30, and the tight deadlines it imposes, is our response to this bureaucratic failure.

The American dream can be achievable — but the state government needs to focus and prioritize policies that provide immediate relief. Lowering the cost of gas by approving AB 30 is a common-sense proposal that will provide drivers immediate relief and signal the Legislature’s intent to prioritize rising costs.

David Alvarez represents the 80th Assembly District. Heath Flora represents the 9th Assembly District. Both are members of the bipartisan and bicameral California Problem Solvers Caucus.