Formulation and development of public policy for biofuels in California (2007-2017)

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to analyze the participation of the judiciary in the formulation and implementation of energy policies related to biofuels in the state of California in the United States. To this end, the focus will be on the Low Carbon Fuels Standard (LCFS) created in 2007. This paper uses the Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF), a theory of public policy, as a theoretical basis. The process of forming the LCFS program, held within California, during 2007-2017, will be analyzed in order to understand domestic decision-making processes, with a mapping of the main responsible institutional bodies and other actors that directly influenced the process. Finally, it will look at how the court rulings arising from the lawsuits against the California Air Resources Board (CARB) - Rocky Mountain Farmers Union v. Corey and another process from POET, LLC v. California Air Resources Board - impacted the program, placing this constitutional power in the category of active actor in the policy making process.