A National Zero Carbon Transportation Plan for the US

November 27, 2020

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by Dan Sperling, Lew Fulton, and Vicki Arroyo (University of California Davis) ... Summary of Policy Recommendations

Rapidly increase the sales of zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) by implementing the following:
- National ZEV sales requirements for cars
- National ZEV sales and fleet purchase requirements for trucks
- Incentives for ZEV vehicle purchases and ZEV infrastructure
Tighten fuel economy/GHG standards for all new cars and trucks
Adopt national low-carbon fuel standard covering all fuels for road vehicles and airplanes
Reduce dependence on automobile travel while increasing access for walking, bicycling, new micro mobility modes, telecommunications, transit, pooled ride-hailing services, and other low carbon choices, especially for disadvantaged travelers, by:
- Shifting federal transportation or stimulus funding from new highway capacity and lane expansions to: bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and new micro mobility modes; transit in dense areas; and public-private partnerships between transit operators and ride-hailing providers.
- Supporting local and state actions that increase low-carbon travel and investments, reduce single-occupant vehicle use, and increase transit-oriented development.
- Reforming fuel taxes and other vehicle-related fees and adopting pricing policies to favor the use of more sustainable travel options and generate funding for low-carbon vehicle and travel choices.
Support low-carbon biofuels and electrofuels for aviation, ships, and long haul trucks.
Support local policies that increase the use of automation for electric, pooled vehicles to reduce vehicle use, provide low-cost accessibility to mobility-disadvantaged travelers, reduce the cost of travel to individuals and society, and sharply reduce the amount of land devoted to transportation. READ MORE

GREENS TARGET LAWMAKERS ON CLEAN ENERGY: (Politico's Morning Energy)

California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard Accelerating Transportation Electrification (CleanTechnica/Union Of Concerned Scientists)

Excerpt from Politico's Morning Energy: GREENS TARGET LAWMAKERS ON CLEAN ENERGY: The Environmental Defense Fund is launching a six-figure digital and TV ad buy today as part of its "Power Up America" campaign to shape clean energy and transportation policy, and urge lawmakers to make investments in clean energy research and technology. The first two ads will begin today, initially in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Ohio and Nevada. The green group is specifically calling for 100 percent clean electric power by 2035, all new cars to be zero emissions by 2035, and all new trucks and buses to be zero emissions by 2040. Watch the ads. READ MORE0

Excerpt from Clean Technica/Union of Concerned Scientists): Clean fuel standards like the California LCFS are helping to accelerate transportation electrification and are a model other states and the federal government should consider as part of their own efforts to decarbonize transportation. By requiring sellers of more polluting fuels to buy credits from users of cleaner alternative fuels like electricity, a clean fuel standard holds polluters accountable to help clean up the problems they have created. A clean fuel standard complements requirements for vehicle manufacturers to improve efficiency and increase the sale of EVs and policies requiring electric utilities to cut pollution and increase the use of renewable power. Taken together these policies make sure all of these industries are pulling in the same direction, sharing the load and accelerating progress to a cleaner, lower carbon future. READ MORE