California may be biofuel and fossil free by 2050 but needs biodiesel to get there

In California, researchers have published a study that shows the state could be powered entirely be renewable resources by 2050. The study focuses on water, wind and sunlight, ostensibly pushing biofuels into the “unwanted” category with fossil fuels, natural gas and nuclear power.

In the meantime, however, the California Air Resources Board expects biodiesel, renewable diesel and natural gas to make up a growing part of the Low Carbon Fuel Standard. By 2020, the CARB expects renewable diesel to provide up to 1.5 billion gallons nationwide, much of it to California, while the country could see 2 billion gallons of biodiesel available by then. It is less optimistic about cellulosic ethanol, however, expecting just 250 million gallons to be produced in the US while up to 300 million gallons could be imported from Brazil.