How Washington State’s new bill encourages biofuels production

Over the weekend, the Washington State Legislature passed a clean fuel standard (H.B. 1091), which was sent yesterday to Gov. Jay Inslee for signature. Here’s how the bill works and what it means for the development of biofuels.

Washington’s clean fuel standard requires fuel producers to reduce the carbon intensity of transportation fuels to 20% below 2017 levels by 2038, or purchase carbon credits. The reductions will occur in stages:

• up to 0.5% each year in 2023-2024
• 1% each year in 2025-2027
• 1.5% each year in 2028-2031 (with no change 2032-2033)
• 20% below 2017 levels by 2038

The bill creates a “Clean Fuel Coast” on the Pacific, with similar standards in place in California and Oregon—and “from Mexico through British Columbia.”

The bill’s introductory section notes the need for biofuels competition: “California and Oregon have both implemented low carbon fuel standards that are similar to the program created in this act, and both states have experienced biofuel sector growth and have successfully sited large biofuel projects that had originally been planned for Washington.” 

A related bill sent to Inslee yesterday (S.B. 5126) establishes a cap-and-trade program with a statewide greenhouse gas emissions cap, which will lower over time. California and a few states in the Northeast have similar programs.

Dr. Michelle’s Diagnosis: With the passage of HB 1091, Washington state is showing once again that climate action and economic growth go hand in hand. In completing the clean fuels west coast, Washington State will create a more robust market for home-grown sustainable fuels, reduce our nation's air pollution, and improve public health. BIO looks forward to Governor Jay Inslee signing the bill and thanks Representative Joe Fitzgibbon and other state lawmakers who helped make a low carbon fuel standard become a reality in Washington State. – BIO President and CEO Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath

“None of the 43 antibiotics that are currently in clinical development sufficiently address the problem of drug resistance in the world’s most dangerous bacteria,” the World Health Organization (WHO) announced when releasing a new report on the antibiotic pipeline. Here’s what you need to know.

The WHO’s fourth annual report,Antibacterial Pipeline Report, looks at the pipeline for antibiotics to address antimicrobial resistance, or AMR. In addition to clinical and preclinical antibiotics, this year’s report looks at non-traditional products like monoclonal antibodies, too.

“Almost all the new antibiotics that have been brought to market in recent decades are variations of antibiotic drugs classes that had been discovered by the 1980s,” said WHO. For these drugs, “resistance mechanisms are well established and rapid emergence of resistance is foreseen.”

A key obstacle to development—cited both in the report and by BIO—is the lack of mechanisms to ensure drug developers can recoup the cost of developing these kinds of drugs.

The WHO report notes the benefits of the AMR Action Fund,launched last year by 20+ biopharmaceutical companies (including many BIO members) pledging $1 billion to support the pipeline and bring 2-4 new antibiotics to the market by 2030. WHO says the fund can help encourage development, but cannot guarantee manufacturers will sell enough of an approved drug to make investment sustainable.

That’s why we need policy solutions, continues the report—like the PASTEUR Act, which would provide biopharma companies with a fixed annual payment from the government for ensuring access to antibiotics, regardless of how many are sold. (Read what BIO’s Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath said about it.) 

Read: AMR is a “major looming threat to global health systems,” causing between 50K-162K deaths in the United States each year, says Sally Greenberg, Executive Director of the National Consumers League (NCL). Read the whole thing.

Listen: “Bugs always win,” said Dr. Evan Loh, CEO of Paratek, which commercialized NUZYRA, a new antibiotic to treat pneumonia. Listen to the conversation on the I AM BIO Podcast.

More Health Care News: 

POLITICO: The most promising coronavirus vaccine you’ve never heard of
“Novavax’ rise comes as pressure to increase the supply of COVID-19 vaccines is growing amid concerns that unequal access globally will extend the pandemic.”

President Biden’s Tuesday: After the announcement that the United States will donate AstraZeneca vaccine doses, he’s giving an address about COVID-19. As he seeks to pivot from pandemic response to getting back to normal, the president is expected to announce new mask guidance, including the suggestion that people who are fully vaccinated can unmask outdoors. Tomorrow, he makes his first address to Congress, with expected topics including COVID-19, his $2.3 trillion spending plan, and police reform. Meanwhile: “The White House isn’t expected to include a measure aimed at lowering the price of prescription drugs in its coming antipoverty package,” reports the Wall Street Journal.

What’s Happening on Capitol Hill: The Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing on addressing climate challenges, encompassing the topics of job creation and clean energy. A Senate Environment and Public Works subcommittee will hold a hearing on a National Climate Bank. A House subcommittee of the Committee on Foreign Affairs will hold a hearing on the effects of climate change in Africa.