Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski signed a series of bills into law recently as part of his global warming package, including House Bill 2186, which requires oil companies to reduce the amount of carbon in gasoline and diesel fuel
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The laws are designed to curb greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks, ensure low carbon fuel and invest in green technology and jobs, among other things.

Critics of the measure, including the Oregon Trucking Associations, opposed it largely because it grants authority to mandate statewide fuel changes without further legislative approval; its economic impact is unknown, and no one knows exactly what constitutes a "low carbon fuel."

"These bills are the next step in growing our green economy, lessening our dependence on foreign sources of fossil fuel and ensuring clean air, cleaner burning fuel and energy efficient buildings and homes that save money and protect our environment," Kulongoski said in a press release. "These policies secure Oregon's position as a national leader in climate change policy while also expanding economic opportunity in clean, green jobs across the state."

House Bill 2168 calls on the Environmental Quality Commission to develop a low carbon fuel standard that would sunset in 2015. Under the measure, the EQC will mandate that inflation of tires be part of servicing vehicles and require reduction in emissions from ships at port. The law also directs the Department of Environmental Quality to analyze ways of reducing aerodynamic drag on medium- and heavy-duty trucks. The Department will report back to the legislature by October of 2010 with its recommendations.

The bill, which was originally introduced in January, was approved by the Oregon House of Representatives on June 25.