SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
us pirg
New federal rule would help tackle country's largest source of global warming pollution: transportation
Requiring states to report transportation sector emissions promotes transparency, encourages forward-thinking decisions
Jul 07, 2022
President Joe Biden's administration announced a new proposed rule on Thursday to address the climate impact of the nation's transportation system. The rule, proposed by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), will require state transportation departments and metropolitan planning organizations to report the carbon dioxide emissions of vehicles traveling on their respective sections of the federal highway system, and to set declining yearly emissions targets. The public will have 90 days to comment on the proposed rule.
The United States transportation sector is the number one source of greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for around 27% of annual emissions, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This rule aims to provide taxpayers, advocates, and decision-makers a clearer picture of how transportation investments impact pollution.
States will have access to $27 billion in funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to build institutional capacity for greenhouse gas measurement and to implement projects that will help them hit their emissions reductions goals. State transportation departments will report emissions through the same mechanism that they do for safety, roadway conditions and other metrics.
In response, Lisa Frank, executive director of Environment America's Washington Legislative Office, issued the following statement:
"As Americans brace ourselves for another hotter-than-usual summer, it's encouraging that the Biden administration is taking aim at our largest source of global warming pollution: transportation. We know what's needed to reduce these emissions. States and municipalities can expand transit and make our streets safe for walking and biking. They can install electric vehicle charging and create incentives for consumers to buy electric vehicles, so that when we do need to drive, we aren't driving climate change. And what's more, states have unprecedented funding from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to make these changes to our transportation system.
"Although these changes are necessary to tackle climate change, the improvements to our lives don't stop there. From reducing deadly air pollution and traffic deaths to saving us money at the pump and helping us enjoy more time with family or outdoors, giving people more and cleaner travel options will make us healthier, happier and allow us to live our lives better."
Sam Little, PIRG Transportation advocate, issued the following statement:
"While the transportation sector is the United States' largest source of global warming pollution, it is also ripe for innovation and carbon emissions reduction. With the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to push for transportation emissions cuts, leading the country to a cleaner future and a more stable climate.
"However, we won't know how far we've come unless we have a national framework for measurement. The DOT's proposed greenhouse gas emissions rule is a crucial step towards reeling in our transportation emissions and bringing transparency and accountability to state projects.
"In 2017, U.S. PIRG, together with NRDC and Southern Environmental Law Center sued the Federal Highway Administration to protect a similar greenhouse gas emissions rule. Five years of advocacy later, we are encouraged that this rule may soon be reinstated alongside declining emissions targets. We applaud Sec. Buttigieg and President Biden on their leadership and hope this encourages states to make forward-thinking transportation choices."
Keep ReadingShow Less
Statement: Rather than a gas tax holiday, US should address oil dependence at its roots
Rethinking transportation system could free Americans from pain of oil market volatility
Jun 22, 2022
In an effort to alleviate the burden of high gas prices for American consumers, President Joe Biden on Wednesday called for a three-month suspension of the federal gas tax. That 18.4 cents per gallon tax has not been raised since 1993. The average price of gas in the United States was $4.98 per gallon at the beginning of this week, compared to $3.07 per gallon a year ago this time. Suspending the gas tax will require action by Congress. The president also urged states to suspend their gas taxes or provide other relief to consumers.
Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions and a major source of health harming air pollution in the U.S. Passenger cars and trucks account for 60% of transportation-related emissions.
In response, Environment America's Washington Legislative Office Executive Director Lisa Frank released the following statement:
"Over the last century, America has built a transportation system that makes it easy to drive and hard to do almost anything else. As an unintended consequence, car-centric policies have also left us with choking traffic, polluted air and a dangerously warming planet. And they leave us vulnerable to oil price shocks caused by events over which we have no control, such as armed conflict half a world away.
"There is a way out of this mess, but it isn't through short-term solutions like gas tax holidays. With the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, we now have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to stop the damage by providing more and better alternatives to driving, such as rail, regional transit, walking and biking. States should use infrastructure dollars wisely to create more options. And Congress should pass tax credits for clean, electric vehicles. If we work toward a transportation system powered by the sun, wind and our own two feet, all Americans will reap the benefits: cleaner air to breathe, less time stuck in traffic and a safer climate. Regardless of gas prices, that future is worth driving toward."
U.S. PIRG Environment Campaigns Director Matt Casale released the following statement:
"The current gas price spike is just the latest reminder that our dependence on oil leaves us all over a barrel. To really help consumers, we need more than a gas tax holiday -- we need real transportation solutions that do not further deepen our dependence on cars and oil over the long haul. Not only would kicking our addiction to oil be good for our pocketbooks, but also that action would help make us healthier and happier by cleaning up our air and ensuring a more livable climate.
"Instead of a gas tax holiday, which will only exacerbate our problems, President Biden should be calling for concrete steps that help Americans save money and also drive us toward a long-overdue off-ramp from oil and car dependence. Instead of subsidizing gasoline sales, why don't we provide a 'holiday' on transit fares? Or we could provide emergency incentives for carpooling, or boost funding for workplace programs that help workers find cleaner commuting options. We could provide subsidies to offset the cost of e-bikes and conventional bikes. Or even pay people to ditch their cars altogether. That would cut back on demand for oil and ease price pressures for everyone."
Keep ReadingShow Less
U.S. Pirg Applauds Biden Administration's Actions on Medical Debt
Federal agencies to reduce or eliminate medical debt as a factor in loan programs.
Apr 11, 2022
Vice President Kamala Harris announced reforms Monday to reduce the impact of medical debt on Americans' finances. Federal agencies will more effectively evaluate financial assistance, loan products, billing and debt collection practices related to medical expenses, and reduce or eliminate the use of medical debt in underwriting for federal loan programs.
Patients experiencing problems with a financial product or service related to medical billing and collections are being directed to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to file a complaint.
In response Mike Litt, U.S. PIRG's Consumer Campaigns director, made the following statement:
"Because so many health issues are beyond our control, medically necessary debt on credit reports shouldn't just be limited -- it shouldn't be reported or considered at all.
"We are glad to see the Biden-Harris Administration leading the way for government agencies to look at eliminating or reducing the impacts of medical debt. Opening the door for people with medical debt to apply for federal loans is a big deal. Next, the private sector should follow suit."
Keep ReadingShow Less
Fully Restored Clean Car Standards Will Help Reduce Long-Term Oil Consumption
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announces NHTSA’s final federal fuel economy standards
Apr 01, 2022
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) finalized on Friday its fuel economy rule. The revised federal Clean Car Standards will make future cars more efficient and drive innovation toward cleaner technologies, such as electric vehicles. Finalizing this rule was the last step the Biden administration needed to take to reverse the previous administration's rollback of the federal Clean Car Standards.
Experts from Environment America and U.S. PIRG issued the following statement:
"Fuel economy standards have thrust the auto industry forward over the past 50 years ensuring our cars pollute less and go further on each gallon of gasoline," said Environment America Destination: Zero Carbon Director Morgan Folger. "Americans use too much oil, which burns up into dangerous pollution that harms our lungs and traps more heat in our atmosphere. As the market shifts to zero-emission electric vehicles, these rules are essential to make sure every fossil fuel-powered vehicle that remains is having as little impact on our warming climate as possible. Thank you Secretary Buttigieg for restoring Clean Car Standards that push the industry to innovate and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels."
"As a result of America's over reliance on fossil fuels, our transportation sector now produces more global warming pollution than any other part of the economy. If we want clean air and a healthy climate, we need to reduce our transportation-related emissions and reduce our use of oil," said U.S. PIRG Environment Campaigns Director Matt Casale. "By setting stronger Clean Car Standards, the Biden administration is taking important action that will help us avoid burning more gasoline that is fueling the climate crisis and harming our health."
Keep ReadingShow Less
Most Popular