CARB Low Carbon Fuel Standard Regulation

Yorke Engineering, LLC (Yorke) has multiple California Air Resources Board (CARB) accredited Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) lead verifiers on staff. Yorke and its LCFS compliance consultants have advised hundreds of clients on various CARB programs and how these programs apply to all types of facilities. We have a good working relationship with many of the staff members at CARB and can help you navigate the California LCFS Regulation.

The LCFS is designed to encourage the use and production of cleaner, low-carbon transportation fuels in California, and thereby reduce GHG emissions and decrease petroleum dependence in the transportation sector. The standard is expressed in terms of the “carbon intensity” (CI), which is a measure of carbon produced per unit of energy. Low-carbon fuels below the CI benchmark generate credits, while fuels above the benchmark generate deficits. Providers of transportation fuels must demonstrate that the mix of fuels they supply for use in California meets the LCFS benchmarks for each annual compliance period.

CARB recently updated the LCFS rule with changes that will significantly expand opportunities and compliance responsibilities under the program. These changes increase annual CI reduction targets to 30% by 2030 and 90% by 2045, making it critical for fuel suppliers to plan now for compliance under tightening carbon intensity standards.

For transportation fuel suppliers in California, LCFS creates a compliance obligation, and Yorke staff can help you stay in compliance. For other industrial and government facilities in California, the LCFS creates an opportunity to generate LCFS credits from biomethane, electric vehicle fueling, hydrogen fueling, electric forklifts, and other types of projects. The sale of LCFS credits is a source of funding for climate-friendly projects such as:

• Industrial or commercial facility electric vehicle fleet fueling projects and electric forklift projects;
• Landfill, waste management, or wastewater treatment plant biomethane projects;
• Refinery and crude oil production facility projects for renewable electricity, natural gas, electrification, or process improvement (energy efficiency); and
• Miscellaneous other projects relating to biomethane and electric vehicle fueling.

Yorke can assist with project feasibility studies, assessment of existing fleet and fueling infrastructure, evaluation of LCFS credit generation potential, preparation of LCFS credit generation initial application and ongoing reports, long-term data management and review, and other related tasks. Yorke can serve as the necessary project management interface between LCFS project vendors and facility staff. This is part of Yorke’s core business, which is serving our clients as technical consultants within their organization.

LCFS Credit Generating Opportunities

Electric Vehicle Fleets and Forklifts

Yorke can assist industrial and commercial facilities in planning and executing new or existing projects for electric vehicle fleets and electric forklifts:

• Fleet planning, including evaluating interaction with other CARB fleet rules;
• On-site electric vehicle charging station feasibility and implementation, if justified;
• Contracts with off-site charging stations, where warranted;
• Assisting with project selection from various options and navigating through bid offerings from multiple contractors; and
• Recordkeeping and reporting for all of the above to fully realize LCFS credit generation revenues.

CARB’s 2025 amendments expand project-based crediting opportunities to include infrastructure such as electric TRU charging, renewable hydrogen refueling, and medium- and heavy-duty EV charging. Yorke can assist clients in understanding the rules, preparing necessary paperwork, managing ongoing data collection, and maximizing LCFS credits obtained. Yorke can serve the client as an “in-house” advisor by managing multiple entities who provide services in these areas but require planning and supervision. This will minimize the burden on in-house staff, and maximize the benefits accrued from ongoing LCFS reporting and credit generation.

Biomethane Production

The value of LCFS credits from biomethane depends on both the carbon intensity of the fuel pathway and the energy economy ratio (EER) of the vehicle using the fuel. For landfills, wastewater treatment plants, and agriculture and dairy facilities, Yorke can assist with identifying and planning projects where LCFS credits are generated from biomethane, identifying optimal pathways and assist with Tier 1 or Tier 2 applications for production and delivery to the gas distribution grid. Yorke is currently working with numerous clients in this category on various environmental permitting and compliance projects. Our certified and experienced LCFS credit verifiers and permitting experts help streamline the permitting process to ensure that new LCFS credit generation projects will be approved more easily. We also provide ongoing LCFS reporting and recordkeeping services to help our clients stay in compliance.

Refineries and Oil & Gas

For the refinery and oil & gas sectors, there are numerous LCFS credit generation opportunities relating to renewable electricity, renewable natural gas, electrification, or process improvement. Yorke has more than 20 years of extensive permitting and compliance experience in the refinery and oil & gas sectors in California. We have provided both specialized technical assistance and in-house technical support services and can assist with project identification, selection, documentation, and initial LCFS credit application for these projects. In addition, we can also provide ongoing LCFS reporting and recordkeeping services to help our clients stay in compliance.

LCFS Services

LCFS Data Management Tools

LCFS uses three modules for data management, and Yorke can provide management and support for all three. These tools include:

• The LCFS Reporting Tool (LRT);
• The Credit Banking and Transfer System (CBTS); and
• The Alternative Fuel Portal (AFP).

LCFS Reporting and Pre-Verification

• Prepare plans to manage LCFS reporting, recordkeeping, verification, and oversight to meet regulatory requirements;
• Assist with managing quarterly and annual reporting;
• Assist with opt-in and opt-out for optional facility generating credits;
• Prepare online LCFS reports and assist with submittal assistance; and
• Provide CARB LCFS advance verification support (when verification is not performed by Yorke).

CARB LCFS Emissions Report Verification

• Verification of General LCFS, Fuel Pathways, Petroleum-Based Fuel Reports, and Alternative Fuel Transactions;
• Evaluation of Conflict of Interest;
• Verification planning meetings;
• CARB compliance analysis;
• Development of Verification and Sampling Plans and Verification Report; and
• Submittal of Verification Statement.

Why Choose Yorke?

Yorke Engineering is a trusted LCFS compliance consultant with deep regulatory expertise and proven success across California’s most complex industries. When you partner with Yorke, you benefit from:

• CARB-Accredited LCFS Verifiers: Our team includes multiple certified lead verifiers with deep knowledge of CARB’s fuel pathway and crediting rules.
• Decades of Regulatory Experience: With over 20 years supporting clients in the refinery, waste, manufacturing, and utility sectors, we offer unmatched insight into permitting, compliance, and reporting.
• Full-Spectrum LCFS Support: From feasibility studies to reporting and ongoing verification, we offer end-to-end guidance tailored to your project type and credit opportunity.
• Strong Relationships with CARB: Our familiarity with CARB staff and process nuances helps avoid delays and improve project approval outcomes.
• In-House Integration: We act as an extension of your team, managing multiple third-party vendors if necessary, and streamlining credit generation without overburdening internal resources.

Yorke is more than a service provider – we are your strategic partner in navigating the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard.