ASA: CARB guidance brings regulatory clarity for soy-based biofuels

The American Soybean Association welcomed July 15 the California Air Resources Board’s release of updated implementation guidance for the Low Carbon Fuel Standard Sustainability Guardrails, an important step toward providing the regulatory certainty needed to support U.S. soybean farmers and the renewable fuels industry.

“This updated guidance provides much-needed clarity for farmers and the biofuels supply chain,” said Scott Metzger, ASA president and Ohio soybean farmer. “Clear, practical rules help ensure soybean farmers can continue supplying the renewable fuels market with confidence. We appreciate CARB’s efforts to provide the certainty needed to support continued investment in low-carbon fuels.”

The updated guidance answers several implementation questions raised by ASA, through the Biomass-Based Diesel Initiative, and other stakeholders by confirming that fuel producers can demonstrate compliance using practical supply-chain documentation and mass-balance accounting, rather than tracing soybeans back to individual fields.

The approach provides a more practical path to compliance while maintaining the LCFS’s strong sustainability standards.