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CARB seeks staff to evaluate E15 fuel use; committee weighs limited-term vs permanent positions
Summary
CARB requested Air Pollution Control Fund positions to complete multimedia evaluation and potential rulemaking to authorize up to 15% ethanol (E15) in gasoline in California. LAO recommended limited-term funding pending the multimedia evaluation; lawmakers debated whether permanent staff are necessary to meet the governor's expedited timeline.
The subcommittee considered a CARB request for funding and positions to complete the multimedia evaluation and implement any necessary regulatory changes to permit the use of ethanol blended gasoline up to 15 percent (E15) in California.
CARB briefed the committee that the governor requested expedited evaluation of E15 and that the agency needs staff to finish the multimedia assessment and, if the evaluation supports it, to proceed with regulatory changes to fuel specifications and associated implementation steps that include modeling, enforcement design and low carbon fuel standard pathway approvals.
The Legislative Analyst's Office recommended approving staffing on a limited-term (two-year) basis rather than an ongoing increase, citing current regulatory uncertainty and the multi-step multimedia evaluation that will determine whether regulatory changes are warranted. LAO advised that a limited-term approach would give the agency flexibility if the evaluation finds longer or shorter workload needs.
CARB urged that permanent, experienced regulatory staff are better suited to meet an expedited timeline because the agency does not have time to train junior staff and because skilled rule writers tend to be recruited from permanent state positions. CARB said it would start hiring once the Budget Act authorizes resources and aims to begin rulemaking in the upcoming fiscal year with the hope of bringing a regulation to the board by mid-2026, though the timeline depends on environmental and economic analyses and public input.
Committee members who supported expedited review emphasized potential consumer savings at the pump from increased ethanol blends and asked CARB to provide a clear timeline for completing the multimedia evaluation and next steps.
No final appropriation decision was adopted at the hearing; the subcommittee asked CARB and LAO to continue negotiations on structure (limited term vs permanent) and to provide a detailed timeline and staffing plan for the multimedia evaluation and possible rulemaking.
