Newsom's Jet Fuel Plan: Good for Environment or Bad for Roads?

0:00It's April 8th. Welcome to Canada News Today, powered by AI. Governor Gavin Newsom is pushing a plan to shift hundreds of millions of dollars from road repair funds into tax credits for cleaner jet fuel, producers. The main winter looks like Philip 66, and its converted refinery and rodeo, which turns waste oils into sustainable aviation fuel. But critics say this could bump up gas and diesel prices for everyday drivers across California. The credits come from diesel taxes that voters locked for highways and streets. Only a couple companies qualify right now, with Philip 66 leading the pack after spending over $1,250,000. On the switch, credits range from $1 to $2 per gallon, depending on how green the fuel is, and state estimates put the total cost between one. $165 million and $300 million. Reactions are all over the map. UC Berkeley economists call it a bad deal, saying it cuts emissions at 10 times the smart cost.

1:02The legislature's nonpartisan analyst wants lawmakers to kill it. Environmental groups push for mass transit instead, and even some oil folks are. Worry. Meanwhile, refinery workers and supportive lawmakers worry about jobs vanishing without the help. Debra Dives show risks like out-of-state companies jumping in, slashing diesel tax cash by up to 75% and inflating the billway. Higher. It pulls from highway maintenance, local roads, and freight grants, leaving infrastructure short. Plus, it might just shuffle fuels around without real climate winds, hiking truck fuel costs 10 to 15 cents a gallon. Lawmakers face a tough call between propping up this jet fuel bet and fixing crumbling roads, as the budget debate heats up in Sacramento.