A study released by the Energy Policy Research Foundation, Inc. (EPFF)entitled “Will the Ethanol Mandate Drive Up the Cost of Transportation Fuels?” discusses how ethanol mandates will drive up the cost of gasoline.  It’s an interesting look at the challenges in meeting the federal mandates regarding ethanol (as part of the Renewable Fuel Standard) and its impact on the transportation sector. California will impose similar challenges to consumers through the developing Low Carbon Fuel Standard.

The California State Lands Commission has rejected a proposal that could have led to the first new oil drilling project off the California coast in 40 years. The panel, January 29th, voted 2-1 against Plains Exploration & Production Co.'s request for approval of its bid to expand drilling off Platform Irene in the Santa Barbara Channel. Commission Executive Officer Paul Thayer said the project is effectively dead unless the oil company takes it to court or reapplies to the commission with a new proposal. The proposal, which would have been worth billions of dollars, was announced last year with a landmark alliance between longtime anti-oil environmentalists and the oil company.