What is a CI score?

Carbon intensity (CI) scores are the backbone behind California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard, and are measured in grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per megajoule of energy (gCO2e/MJ). Each year, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) sets a carbon intensity benchmark for all fuels. Fuels with CI scores above the benchmark create deficits which can be satisfied by purchasing LCFS credits generated by fuels with CI scores below the benchmark. The more the CI is below the benchmark, the more valuable the corresponding credit, everything else being equal. Renewable natural gas generated from animal waste tend to carry negative CI scores, and as such, generally receive more favorable pricing in California than RNG produced from landfills.