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Dear CARB members,

I read with interest the S.F. Chronicle editorial this morning
regarding your upcoming meeting tomorrow to consider amendments
relaxing the Low Carbon Fuel Standards.  I am writing to ask that
the Board reject the oil industries requests to annually review
these standards in light of progress in their reductions of
greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels.

This is the time to stand firm behind these standards.  Our state
is a leader, nationally and internationally, in recognizing the
need to take mitigating actions to move our economy to less
polluting sources of fuels in order to avoid major climate change
impacts to our society.  We have seen in our recent history that
establishing standards for change, and holding firm to these
standards, creates the incentive and persuasion needed to establish
new products to meet the tougher standards.  We saw this with the
automobile industry response to mileage standards: hold firm to the
standard and the performance will come along, in fits and starts,
with much objection and push back by the industry.  Look at the
progress the Western European countries have made in this regard,
where gasoline is priced and taxed high enough to lead to small,
efficient cars, less pollution, more public transit, etc.
Certainly we can do as well in the United States, and even better
here in California.

Thank you for considering my comments.
Roger Potash