If there is any silver lining to the modern era of soaring gasoline prices, it's the way they have renewed Californians' desire for more choices at the pump. As a result, Californians are pursuing cars powered by lower cost, cleaner fuels, such as electricity and natural gas.

Diversity in our transportation fuels market is beneficial to our economy, our environment and our national security. On Friday, members of California's Air Resources Board could act to help give Californians more choices with lower-cost alternative fuels. This is an opportunity CARB should seize.

Consumers want cleaner cars that save them money. In a recent survey conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California, more than two-thirds of Californians said higher gasoline prices have led them to seriously consider buying a more fuel-efficient car. More than 2 million hybrid cars have been sold in America in the last 10 years. Eyeing those successes, all of the major auto manufacturers are investing in cleaner, more efficient vehicles that offer customers a choice of the fuel they use.

The Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt, the first mass market plug-in vehicles, hit California's streets last year, and both companies are expanding production capacity to meet growing demand. In 2012, Californians will also be able to choose between an electric version of the popular Ford Focus, four versions of the Prius, the all-electric Mitsubishi i-MiEV, an electric BMW sports sedan and a Honda Civic that runs on natural gas. And, there are many more clean-car models coming.

All of these vehicles use domestically produced, less-expensive clean fuels. Plus, with an electric vehicle, the customer can charge at home and will pay less than half what would have been paid for gasoline.

When CARB meets Friday, its members should vote to accelerate this shift to low cost fuels by reaffirming their commitment to the state's landmark Low Carbon Fuel Standard, giving Californians more options when they purchase vehicles. The Low Carbon Fuel Standard, which was adopted in 2009 and took effect earlier this year, helps level the playing field for clean alternative fuels by ensuring that fuel providers, particularly oil companies, invest in these fuels.

Unlike other government mandate programs, the LCFS is a performance-based standard that doesn't specify which fuels must be used. It's technology-neutral and requires only that California use more low-carbon transportation fuel.

Keeping the Low Carbon Fuel Standard benefits consumers and businesses. Last year, Californians spent $65 billion on gasoline and diesel, and most of those dollars were sent out of state or out of the country. The less families are forced to spend on transportation fuels, the more they have to spend on other things.

Keeping the proceeds from fuel sales here in California is good for the local economy, too – $40 billion in oil sales last year left the state.

The Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Southern California Gas Co. and San Diego Gas & Electric already help customers make the shift to safe, affordable, and sustainable fuels – clean electricity and natural gas. We have deep experience with electric and natural gas vehicles in our own fleets, and we will continue to work with customers to ensure that their transportation energy needs are met safely, reliably and conveniently.

California residents have made it clear they are serious about saving money, cleaning up the fuel supply and reducing dependence on imported oil. The Air Resources Board should respond by acting decisively to support the Low Carbon Fuels Standard, a program that will provide numerous air quality, health, economic and job benefits to Californians for years to come.

© Copyright The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved.

Elisabeth Brinton is chief business and public affairs officer for the Sacramento Municipal Utility District. Dan Skopec is vice president of regulatory and legislative affairs at Southern California Gas Co. and San Diego Gas & Electric.