Cal. Code Regs. tit. 17, § 95484 – Annual Carbon Intensity Benchmarks.

(a) The Executive Officer's credit and deficit calculations, as described in sections 95486, 95486.1, 95486.2, 95486.3, 95486.4, and 95489, will use the appropriate annual carbon intensity benchmarks set forth in Tables 1, 2, and 3 of this section.
(b) Automatic Acceleration Mechanism. Starting May 15, 2027, and every quarter after, the Executive Officer will announce on the LCFS website whether the Automatic Acceleration Mechanism has been triggered and the cumulative number of times that the Automatic Acceleration Mechanism has been triggered. This announcement will take place on February 14, May 15, August 15, and November 15 of each year, or the following business day, if the announcement date falls on a weekend or holiday.
1. (1) The Automatic Acceleration Mechanism cannot be triggered in the calendar year that immediately follows an announcement that the Automatic Acceleration Mechanism has been triggered.
2. (2) The Automatic Acceleration Mechanism is triggered when the conditions in both subsections (A) and (B) below are met, and if it was not triggered in the immediately prior four quarters.
  1. (A) The Credit Bank to Average Quarterly Deficit Ratio exceeds 3:
    where:
    Credit Bank_20xx is the final credit bank for the program as calculated at the end of the four quarters preceding the quarterly Automatic Acceleration Mechanism announcement; and
    Deficits_20xx is the total number of annual deficits generated under the program as calculated at the end of the four quarters preceding the quarterly Automatic Acceleration Mechanism announcement.
  2. (B) Credit Generation exceeds Deficit Generation:
    where:
    Credits_20xx is the total number of credits generated under the program as calculated at the end of the four quarters preceding the quarterly Automatic Acceleration Mechanism announcement; and
    Deficits_20xx is the total number of deficits generated under the program as calculated at the end of the four quarters preceding the quarterly Automatic Acceleration Mechanism announcement.
(c) Updating the Benchmark Schedules. Starting January 1, 2028, the compliance year for which an average carbon intensity benchmark applies will also take into account the number of times the Automatic Acceleration Mechanism has been triggered pursuant to section 95484(b).
1. (1) An updated benchmark schedule will be posted to the LCFS website on May 15 for any year that the Executive Officer announces that the Automatic Acceleration Mechanism has been triggered.
2. (2) An updated benchmark schedule posted pursuant to section 95484(c)(1) will override any prior benchmark schedules and will take effect January 1 of the calendar year after the Automatic Acceleration Mechanism was triggered.
(d) Benchmarks for Gasoline and Fuels used as a Substitute for Gasoline. Starting in 2028, the defined average carbon intensity benchmarks for each future year will be advanced by one year each time the Automatic Acceleration Mechanism has been triggered pursuant to section 95484(b).
Table 1. LCFS Carbon Intensity Benchmarks for 2011 to 2045 for Gasoline and Fuels Used as a Substitute for Gasoline.
Year
Average Carbon Intensity (gCO₂e/MJ)
2010
Reporting Only
2011 ^*
95.61
2012
95.37
2013 ^**
97.96
2014
97.96
2015
97.96
2016 ^***
96.50
2017
95.02
2018
93.55
2019 ^****
93.23
2020
91.98
2021
90.74
2022
89.50
2023
88.25
2024
87.01
2025 ^a, ^b
76.60
2026
75.16
2027
73.72
2028
72.28 ^δ
2029
70.84 ^δ
2030
69.40 ^δ
2031
64.94 ^δ
2032
60.48 ^δ
2033
56.02 ^δ
2034
51.55 ^δ
2035
47.09 ^δ
2036
42.63 ^δ
2037
38.17 ^δ
2038
33.71 ^δ
2039
29.24 ^δ
2040
24.78 ^δ
2041
21.81 ^δ
2042
18.83 ^δ
2043
15.86 ^δ
2044
12.88 ^δ
2045 and subsequent years
9.91 ^δ
δ These CI targets may be accelerated by the Automatic Acceleration Mechanism pursuant to section 95484(b).
* The benchmarks for years 2011 and 2012 reflect reductions from base year (2010) CI values for CaRFG (95.85) calculated using the CI for crude oil supplied to California refineries in 2006.
** The benchmarks for years 2013 through 2015 reflect reductions from revised base year (2010) CI values for CaRFG (98.95) calculated using the CI for crude oil supplied to California refineries in 2010.
*** The benchmarks for years 2016 through 2018 reflect reductions from revised base year (2010) CI values for CaRFG (98.47).
**** The benchmarks for years 2019 through 2024 reflect reductions from revised base year (2010) CI values for CaRFG (99.44).
a The benchmark for years 2025 through 2045 reflect reductions from revised base year (2010) CI Values for CaRFG (99.15).
b The benchmark schedule in 2025, effective for fuel transactions starting July 1, 2025, has been updated to include a 9% increase in stringency, achieving an 22.75% CI reduction compared to the 13.75% CI reduction previously specified. For 2025 fuel transactions before July 1, 2025, the 85.77 CI benchmark applies.
(e) Benchmarks for Diesel Fuel and Fuels used as a Substitute for Diesel Fuel. Starting in 2028, the defined average carbon intensity benchmarks for each future year will be advanced by one year each time the Automatic Acceleration Mechanism has been triggered pursuant to section 95484(b).
Table 2. LCFS Carbon Intensity Benchmarks for 2011 to 2045 for Diesel Fuel and Fuels Used as a Substitute for Diesel Fuel.
Year
Average Carbon Intensity (gCO₂e/MJ)
2010
Reporting Only
2011 ^*
94.47
2012
94.24
2013 ^**
97.05
2014
97.05
2015
97.05
2016 ^***
99.97
2017
98.44
2018
96.91
2019 ^****
94.17
2020
92.92
2021
91.66
2022
90.41
2023
89.15
2024
87.89
2025 ^a, ^b
81.70
2026
80.17
2027
78.63
2028
77.10 ^δ
2029
75.57 ^δ
2030
74.03 ^δ
2031
69.27 ^δ
2032
64.51 ^δ
2033
59.75 ^δ
2034
54.99 ^δ
2035
50.23 ^δ
2036
45.47 ^δ
2037
40.71 ^δ
2038
35.95 ^δ
2039
31.19 ^δ
2040
26.44 ^δ
2041
23.26 ^δ
2042
20.09 ^δ
2043
16.92 ^δ
2044
13.74 ^δ
2045 and subsequent years
10.57 ^δ
δ These CI targets may be accelerated by the Automatic Acceleration Mechanism pursuant to section 95484(b).
* The benchmarks for years 2011 and 2012 reflect reductions from base year (2010) CI values for ULSD (94.71) calculated using the CI for crude oil supplied to California refineries in 2006.
** The benchmarks for years 2013 through 2015 reflect reductions from revised base year (2010) CI values for ULSD (98.03) calculated using the CI for crude oil supplied to California refineries in 2010.
*** The benchmarks for years 2016 through 2018 reflect reductions from revised base year (2010) CI values for ULSD (102.01).
**** The benchmarks for years 2019 through 2024 reflect reductions from revised base year (2010) CI values for ULSD (100.45).
a The benchmark for years 2025 through 2045 reflect reductions from revised base year (2010) CI Values for ULSD (105.76).
b The benchmark schedule in 2025, effective for fuel transactions starting July 1, 2025, has been updated to include a 9% increase in stringency, achieving a 22.75% CI reduction compared to the 13.75% CI reduction previously specified. For 2025 fuel transactions before July 1, 2025, the 86.64 CI benchmark applies.
(f) Benchmarks for Fuels used as a Substitute for Fossil Jet Fuel. Starting in 2028, the defined average carbon intensity benchmarks for each future year will be advanced by one year each time the Automatic Acceleration Mechanism has been triggered pursuant to section 95484(b).
Table 3. LCFS Carbon Intensity Benchmarks for 2019 to 2045 for Fuels Used as a Substitute for Fossil Jet Fuel.
Year
Average Carbon Intensity (gCO₂e/MJ)
2019 ^*
89.37
2020
89.37
2021
89.37
2022
89.37
2023
89.15
2024
87.89
2025 ^**
81.70
2026
80.17
2027
78.63
2028
77.10 ^δ
2029
75.57 ^δ
2030
74.03 ^δ
2031
69.27 ^δ
2032
64.51 ^δ
2033
59.75 ^δ
2034
54.99 ^δ
2035
50.23 ^δ
2036
45.47 ^δ
2037
40.71 ^δ
2038
35.95 ^δ
2039
31.19 ^δ
2040
26.44 ^δ
2041
23.26 ^δ
2042
20.09 ^δ
2043
16.92 ^δ
2044
13.74 ^δ
2045 and subsequent years
10.57 ^δ
δ These CI targets may be accelerated by the Automatic Acceleration Mechanism pursuant to section 95484(b).
* The benchmarks reflect reductions from base year (2010) CI values for fossil jet fuel (89.37).
** The benchmark for years 2025 (effective for fuel transactions starting July 1, 2025) through 2045 reflect reductions from revised base year (2010) CI Values for fossil jet fuel (89.43). For 2025 fuel transactions before July 1, 2025, the 86.64 CI benchmark applies.
(g) Carbon Intensity Benchmarks for an Alternative Fuel Other Than a Biomass-Based Diesel Fuel Intended for Use in a Vehicle.
1. (1) The Executive Officer will use the benchmarks for gasoline set forth in section 95484(d) for credit and deficit calculations for any alternative fuel, other than biomass-based diesel fuel, if the alternative fuel is used or intended to be used in any single-fuel light- or medium-duty vehicle.
2. (2) The Executive Officer will use the benchmarks for diesel fuel set forth in section 95484(e) for credit and deficit calculations for any alternative fuel, other than biomass-based diesel fuel, that is used or intended to be used in any single-fuel application not identified in section 95484(g)(1) above.
(h) Carbon Intensity Benchmarks for Biomass-Based Diesel Fuel. The benchmark for diesel fuel, set forth in section 95484(e), applies to biomass-based diesel fuel is used or intended to be used in any:
1. (1) light-, medium-, or heavy-duty vehicle;
2. (2) off-road transportation application;
3. (3) off-road equipment application;
4. (4) locomotive or commercial harbor craft application; or
5. (5) non-stationary source application not otherwise specified in subsections (1) through (4) above.
(i) Carbon Intensity Benchmarks for Transportation Fuels Intended for Use in Multi-Fuel Vehicles.
1. (1) The Executive Officer's credit and deficit calculations involving alternative fuel provided for use in a multi-fueled vehicle use:
  1. (A) the benchmarks for gasoline set forth in section 95484(d) if one of the fuels used in the multi-fuel vehicle is gasoline; or
  2. (B) the benchmarks for diesel fuel set forth in section 95484(e) if one of the fuels used in the multi-fuel vehicle is diesel fuel.

Note: Authority cited: Sections 38510, 38530, 38560, 38560.5, 38562.2, 38571, 38580, 39600, 39601 and 43018, Health and Safety Code. Reference: Sections 38501, 38510, 39515, 39516, 38571, 38580, 39000, 39001, 39002, 39003, 39515, 39516 and 43000, Health and Safety Code; Section 25000.5, Public Resources Code; 42 U.S.C. Section 7545; and Western Oil and Gas Ass'n v. Orange County Air Pollution Control District, 14 Cal.3d 411, 121 Cal.Rptr. 249 (1975).

History

1. New section filed 1-12-2010; operative 1-12-2010 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2010, No. 3).

2. Amendment filed 11-26-2012; operative 11-26-2012 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2012, No. 48).

3. Repealer and new section filed 11-16-2015; operative 1-1-2016 (Register 2015, No. 47).

4. Amendment of section heading and section filed 1-4-2019; operative 1-4-2019 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2019, No. 1).

5. Amendment of section and Note filed 6-27-2025; operative 7-1-2025 (Register 2025, No. 26).