California Air Regulators Ease Standards For Gas Refiners
Sponsored by:
Sacramento, CA — California air regulators have eased processing standards for gasoline refineries.
It´s supposed to help increase gas supply and reduce price spikes at the pump following hurricane-related disruption of Gulf Coast oil operations.
There´s only one problem: the decision by the California Air Resources Board yesterday will likely increase smog.
The move involves the early sale of gasoline formulated for use during the winter. This type of gas has more evaporation, thus releasing more pollutants that cause smog.
State regulators estimate an additional 50 tons of hydrocarbons would be released into the air each day. That´s an increase of six to seven percent. Also, ozone would increase by about one percent.
