Complementary Measures: State and Regional Efforts to Reduce Emissions from the

Transportation Sector

September 25, 2012Sonia Hamel

Climate and Energy Consultant

Why Transportation MattersU.S. Transportation GHG Emissions

Other sources include waterborne (5.2%), rail (2.7%), pipelines (1.65), buses (0.6%), lubricants (0.5%) and motorcycles (0.1%)U.S. EPA (2008). Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990 to 2006.

Where Will Potential GHG Reductions Come From?

More Efficient Vehicles(Federal standards)

Cleaner and Lower Carbon Fuels

Smarter, More Efficient Travel Behavior

System-Level Operational Improvements(Transit and Highway)

States are Starting to Look at the Transportation System for

E2 and GHG GoalsA number of states are working on GHG reductions in transportation. Today, I will highlight three good examples:

1. Colorado’s Energy Smart Transportation Initiative

2. Massachusetts's Transportation Goals in the Global Warming Solutions Act and GreenDOT

3. And the Northeast Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI)

The Energy Smart Transportation Initiative (ESTI) developed a framework for considering energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions in transportation decision-making.

The goal was to: 1) identify where in the planning process they

could intervene and2) determine strategies to improve the energy

efficiency of Colorado’s transportation sector (to reduce associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions impacts)

Complementary Measures: Colorado: ESTI

Colorado Energy Smart Transportation Initiative What will it take to get there?

Identify promisingstrategies

How will we measure progress?

Decide how/where to measure GHG impacts

How will we implement the best strategies?

Prioritize actions & integrate into organizations & decision‐making

Smart Trips Smart Systems

Clean FuelsClean Vehicles

PlanningProcesses

Work groups on:•Existing plans•Best  practices•New technologies

Collaborative Team:• Considered urban, suburban, rural, & 

resort context  • Developed evaluation criteria• Linked data to decisions• Promoted inter‐organizational 

coordination• Determined stakeholder participation

Recommendations

Data & Measurement

7

Strategies from Energy Smart Transportation Initiative

• New consumer interactive technologies

More options for transit, bikes and walking

More car pooling and new social network, real-time ride share options

Smart Trips

Smart Systems

Clean FuelsClean

Vehicles Improved fuel

efficiency standards

New technology incentives: EVs, CNG, hybrid vehicles and plug-in hybrids

Reducing the carbon content of fuels

Procurement MOU with other states for CNG trucks

Traffic operations/driving behavior

Reducing congestion or idling

Freight movement efficiency

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)

Better planning for trip-making

9

MA Global Warming Solutions Act

In August 2008, Governor Patrick signed the Climate Protection & Green Economy Act

Required Massachusetts to reduce economy-wide GHG emissions:• 25% reduction <1990 level by 2020• 80% reduction <1990 level by 2050

Clean Energy & Climate Plan for 2020• issued December 29, 2010• Transportation Sector is designed to offer 6.6-7.6% of the economy-emissions (so 26-30% of the whole 25% reduction by 2020)

GreenDOT Vision

Through the full range of our activities, from

strategic planning to construction and system

operations MassDOT will promote

sustainable economic development, protect

the natural environment and enhance the

quality of the life for all of the

Commonwealth’s residents and visitors.

11

MA Implementation Strategy to Get There Comprehensive response to a range of state and

MassDOT laws, policies and initiatives:

• Clean Car Incentives (0.5%)• Federal Renewable Fuels and CFS (1.6%)• Green Communities Act• Healthy Transportation Compact• Smart Growth Policy Package (0.5%)• New Federal Car and Med and Heavy Duty Standards (2.9%)• GreenDOT (1.2%)• PAYD Pilot (1.1%)

The Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI)

Eleven states and DC launched the TCI in June 2010 to:

Reduce greenhouse gases in the transportation sector and help build the clean energy economy.

Create benefits and funding opportunities for states that are leading the way.

Align with federal government actions, goals and emerging inter-agency approaches.

Build on existing regional efforts. Sharing an optimistic, solution-

oriented vision that moves the public

Collaborating Across Sectors and States

The top environment, transportation, and energy officials from participating TCI states are now all “in the same room,” collaborating and guiding project work together for the first time.

Transportation

Environment Energy

TCI Declaration of Intent

Deep Staff and Agency Engagement Drive the TCI Forward

35 agency heads provide direction and core decision-making.

More than 100 staffers from state agencies in the region are engaged, participating in:• Staff working group meetings,• Steering committee meetings,• Working groups in each of the TCI’s project areas

(includes agency officials and subject area experts). The Georgetown Climate Center serves as the group’s

convener and provides facilitation, staffing, analysis, and a team of expert consultants.

We aren’t standing still: the shift to higher carbon fuels

Rising investment in unconventional fossil sources, or “Dirty Fuels” Tar sands, oil shale,

coal to liquids Will worsen Carbon Emissions

associated with transportation sector

TCI Project Area: Clean Vehicles and Fuels

Launched the Northeast Electric Vehicle Network in October 2011 to support the rollout of electric vehicles in the region.

Received a nearly $1 million Electric Vehicle Readiness Grant from DOE in Sept. 2011.

Exploring opportunities to support the use of natural gas vehicles.

Commissioning study of potential revenue losses from increased use of alternative fuel vehicles.

The Northeast Electric Vehicle Network

The Northeast Electric Vehicle Network is one of the nation’s most ambitious electric vehicle networks, spanning 11 states and the District of Columbia.

The Network will result in an increased number of electric vehicle charging stations. But the Network is more than just physical infrastructure. It also represents: • a growing partnership between

the public and private sectors to expedite our transition toward a cleaner transportation system;

• a commitment to removing barriers that would slow the mass-market rollout of electric vehicles.

TCI Project Area:Sustainable Communities

• TCI Agency Heads agreed to a set of sustainability principles in June 2011.

• Georgetown conducted research into what sustainable communities policies TCI states are already implementing.

• December meeting of states and stakeholders identified a potential suite of sustainable communities indicators.

• Indicators can show state progress and show the benefits of sustainable development.

TCI Project Area: Information and Communication Technology

• Promote transit use through information technologies• Encourage travelers to use real‐time information offered in 511 

and other systems to reduce their travel times• Improve bus scheduling and routing• Reduce travel times and traffic congestion• Reduce idling and unproductive run times for trucks and other 

heavy‐duty vehicles• Introduce new ways of collecting and disseminating travel data• Reduce the cost of vehicle ownership• Improve public safety and expand consumer travel choices 

Tap into the potential of information and communication technologies to make transportation more energy efficient and sustainable in the region. Implement emerging technologies to:

TCI Project Area: Freight Seeking to identify and advance regional

initiatives to promote sustainable economic development through better goods movement systems and technology.

Commissioned a comprehensive study of freight flows in the TCI region by Dr. James Winebrake of the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Proposing subsequent study on energy and emissions implications of freight movement in the region.

Working in collaboration with other freight focused groups, including I-95 Corridor Coalition.

Providing information on freight movements to the Northeast Corridor Commission to assist in the Commission’s policy work.

Sense of urgency; can no longer wait for federal action.• The northeast, for example, would be the 8th largest emitter in

the world if one country. • There are benefits to making the driving and needs of 62.5

million people more sustainable. “Cities are the answer - what was the question?”

• The embedded energy in the future delivery of services for existing and new development is so much lower in cities.

History of state action prompting national solutions Experience of working together in the northeast and

leading on environmental issues We can make a difference at this level and it will be

good for our communities.

Why Are Northeast States and Cities Taking Action?

23

Sonia HamelSonia.Hamel@gmail.com

“Politics is the art of compromise. Unfortunately, the atmosphere is no longer negotiating.”

William Becker, Presidential Climate Action Project