This USLCI Database release is Version 1 of the USLCI summer 2026 release (v1.2026-06.0). This USLCI database version is available on the NLR USLCI repo of the Federal LCA Commons Collaboration Server (FLCAC) as well as via the USLCI Release Downloads page of this GitHub site.
Overview of v1.2026-06.0 Changes:
- Electricity Baseline 2023 Library. The new version of the Electricity Baseline repository was added to USLCI as a library. All electricity providers were updated to use the 2023 electricity data. This release also includes new residual mix datasets for use. In a residual mix, the electricity from renewable sources which is claimed via other mechanisms (e.g., Renewable Energy Credits) is removed from the available mix. As a reminder, we have a list of frequently asked questions related to the Electricity Baseline.
- Natural Gas Supply Chain. New natural gas supply chain data was added into USLCI from Argonne National Laboratory’s GREET model. The pre-existing natural gas supply chain data will be phased out over the next quarter and GREET will become the primary source of natural gas data in the next USLCI release. In the GREET default, methane emissions in the natural gas supply chain use a hybrid of bottom-up and top-down approaches for estimating methane leakage, see Burnham 2024. USLCI follows the hybrid default approach from GREET, but users can use the 'CH4_LEAKAGE_METHOD' global parameter in these processes to implement the bottom-up approach instead.
- Beef and Swine Production. Processes related to Beef (8) and Swine (48) production have been incorporated into the USLCI. Originally developed by the University of Arkansas, these datasets have existed on the FLCAC historically but did not use the Federal Elementary Flow List and were not integrated with other repositories. Outside of flow mapping and linking to upstream supply chains in the USLCI, no significant data or metadata updates were made. The legacy repositories (Beef, Swine) will remain on the FLCAC for the time being, but will be removed in the future.
As a reminder, in Q2 2024 the USLCI curation team introduced the FLCAC Electricity Baseline repository as a library to the USLCI database to enhance the quality of electricity processes for background data use. The Data Curators have also developed a standardized, repository-level version format for FLCAC repositories. Starting in June 2024, previous versions of USLCI are now stored on the FLCAC under the ‘Version’ dropdown. As of December 2024, a change log between versions is now available on the FLCAC.
The version of the Electricity Baseline that is currently a library in USLCI has been adapted from the public version of the repository. When you download USLCI from lcacommons.gov, the library will automatically download and connect to the database.
Change Log, Versioning, & Data Submission
Please see the complete Change Log for details of all summer 2026 updates. Additionally, please note that current and deleted datasets are always also available in an archive managed by NLR (wherein current and previous USLCI database versions are available) at the USLCI Downloads Page. Finally, please see the FLCAC Submission Handbook and/or contact the contact the USLCI Data Curator if you have any data/metadata publishing goals for the next September 2026 fall release date. We look forward to hearing from you soon.