Representatives Introduce Legislation Aimed at Reducing GHG Emissions

Federal Agency/Executive Branch, Federal Legislation, Opinions, Oregon, Policy, Texas, Transportation

May 18, 2021

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by Matthew Mercure (NGT News) U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, and Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., have introduced the Green Transportation Act.

The legislation directs cities and states to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the transportation sector. The sector represents the single largest source of carbon pollution in the U.S., which makes tracking and reducing those emissions an urgent priority in mitigating the climate crisis. Because many parts of the country are not accounting for transportation emissions, this represents an important step in working to reduce pollution by mandating the tracking of emissions and the creation of local implementation plans. The bill would help deliver President Joe Biden’s goal of reducing U.S. GHG emissions by at least 50% by 2030.

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The Green Transportation Act would require the Department of Transportation (DOT) to work with EPA to establish national goals and performance measures for GHG emissions reductions. Using these national performance measures as a guide, states and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) would then establish their own GHG reduction targets in their long-range public transit and highway planning. To support MPOs and states with this effort, the bill allows Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act funding to be used to develop standardized models and methodologies for measuring and monitoring GHG emissions and directs the DOT to create a clearinghouse of these best practices.

To ensure states and MPOs are meeting their emissions reduction goals, DOT will annually evaluate carbon dioxide emissions per capita on public roads in each state and issue an accompanying progress report. States that achieve the most significant reductions in carbon dioxide emissions will receive additional flexibility in how they can spend carbon pollution reduction apportionment program funding. States making the least progress in emissions reduction are required to dedicate additional federal funds to projects that will reduce emissions. READ MORE

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