Tanton: Bio-Oil Mandate? More Pain, No Gain

by Tom Tanton

E&E Legal Director, Science & Technology Assessment

As appearing in Fox & Hounds

There’s an old saying: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. In California, we seem to have an addiction to believing that if a new “green” product sounds good, it must be good. But ironically, its success can only be achieved through a legislative requirement. Never mind actual performance.

Such is the case with SB 916 (Correa), a bill that would ban conventional engine lubricating oil in California and mandate a new blend containing at least 25% “biosynthetic” content. This new oil is engineered from crops like soybeans. Now this may seem like a good idea, but the reality is SB 916 is likely to cost consumers millions of dollars not only in the form of higher prices for products from motor oil to milk, but for equipment failure as well.

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