Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Will DOT’s New Freight Council Focus on More Than Trucks?
On Thursday, DOT Secretary Ray LaHood announced the creation of a new Freight Policy Council, which is charged with coming up with a freight strategic plan. This is a first step toward a sorely lacking national plan around freight.
August 27, 2012
International Funders Shift Investments Toward Sustainable Transportation
If you think the United States is doing a bad job shifting toward sustainable transportation, take a look at the developing world. The places with the most to lose from auto-oriented development are doubling down on it -- to the enormous detriment of their citizens, especially the poorest.
August 13, 2012
House to Vote on Cement Industry Environmental Regulations
Republicans have made clear that they don't think President Obama's jobs plan, including $50 billion for transportation infrastructure, will create jobs. They would rather remove regulations that cost industry money. They say reducing this "regulatory burden" will create jobs -- and they want to start with the cement industry.
October 5, 2011
Would President Romney Build Roads or Rail?
All eyes are on Texas Gov. Rick Perry these days, the faraway frontrunner in the Republican race. But as the primary goes on (and on and on) more Republicans might take note of the fact that in a matchup with President Obama, only one candidate stands a chance of winning: former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.
September 27, 2011
The Environmental Impact of Your Two-Wheeled Commute
Slate's Brian Palmer wrote in an article this week that he's thinking of switching his commute "from four wheels to two" but he's concerned about the environmental impact of bicycling: specifically, "about all the energy it takes to manufacture and ship a new bicycle." He wants to know how many miles he would "bike the drive" before he's gone "carbon neutral."
August 12, 2011
Get Rich While Reducing Emissions: Smart Growth Keeps Looking Smarter
Just when you may have been looking for ways to counter that Pew report which poo-pooed the environmental impacts of transit and smart growth, here’s more evidence that reducing driving has an essential role to play in meeting economic and environmental goals: A new report from the Center for Clean Air Policy concludes that compact development will build wealth and cut carbon emissions.
January 21, 2011
Highway-Affiliated Pew Climate Report Favors “Clean” Cars Over Transit
Many transportation reformers were disappointed last week when the Pew Center on Global Climate Change released a report indicating that only clean car technology had a shot at significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The report dismissed smart growth development strategies and transit as trivial contributors to a lower-carbon economy.
January 20, 2011
Sen. Boxer: Working With Mica, Inhofe on a Long-Term Transpo Bill
Senator Barbara Boxer told reporters today that she had an "excellent", “wonderful” meeting with Rep. John Mica (R-FL), the new chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. She confirmed that they're working on a "longer-term" transportation bill and have come up with many points of agreement. We'll let you know more details about that meeting as we get them.
January 6, 2011
Calif. Leads Nation in Green Transpo Policies. How Does Your State Rank?
In the absence of strong guidance from the federal government on climate policy and carbon emissions, states are left to their own devices. And since transportation is the number two source of carbon emissions, accounting for 31 percent of the total, state-level transportation reform must play a large role in any serious effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
December 14, 2010