From Fossil To Renewable: California’s Diesel Transition & The Future Of Refineries - CleanTechnica

The article from CleanTechnica discusses California's significant transition from fossil diesel to renewable diesel and biodiesel, highlighting the impact on the state's refining industry and future fuel landscape. While diesel consumption in California had appeared stable despite declining gasoline demand, a closer look reveals that over 70% of diesel consumed now comes from renewable sources—renewable diesel and biodiesel—resulting in a faster-than-expected decline in fossil diesel use. Renewable diesel, produced through hydroprocessing, is a drop-in fuel compatible with existing engines and infrastructure and can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 65% compared to petroleum diesel. Biodiesel, chemically different and typically blended with petroleum diesel, offers variable emissions reductions depending on feedstock and blend ratios. This shift has created a structural imbalance for refineries, which are designed to produce fixed ratios of gasoline to diesel from crude oil, especially heavy crude. With California's fossil diesel demand shrinking, refineries face a surplus of petroleum diesel they cannot sell locally, leading them to export