January 10, 2019
On December 18, 2018, a coalition of nine states and the District of Columbia, including Vermont, announced their intent to design a new regional low-carbon transportation policy proposal that would cap and reduce carbon emissions from the combustion of transportation fuels, and invest proceeds from the program into low-carbon and more resilient transportation infrastructure. Find the announcement here and advocate responses to announcement here.
The T4VT Coalition, which VTCCC is a member of, is excited about the commitment by Vermont and other states, working as the Transportation Climate Initiative, to thinking regionally about the environmental impacts of our transportation system. In Vermont, transportation is currently the least renewable energy sector and the largest source of pollution in the state, generating 42% of our greenhouse gas emissions.
Harnessing market-based solutions, as well as fostering regional collaboration, are extremely important considering how much of our energy/GHG comes from transportation, and considering the pressing problem of climate change.
We know that transportation is a complex system, influenced by key factors like the locations of our homes, jobs, schools, and businesses, as well as by people’s socioeconomic status. As a system that we have built over many years, it will take time and strategic investment to shift.
A cap and invest system could provide some of the revenue needed for that investment. Investment is essential not only for new technologies like electric vehicles and on-demand ride sharing, but also for housing in villages and downtowns, as well as walking and biking infrastructure.
T4VT sincerely hopes this important conversation and process will be an open and transparent one. We look forward to monitoring the progress of this project and to reviewing and commenting on the proposal.
Transportation for Vermonters is a broad coalition committed to increasing the affordability, access, and sustainability of Vermont’s Transportation System. Its members are AARP-VT, American Heart Association, American Lung Association in Vermont, CarShare Vermont, CATMA (Chittenden Area Transportation Management Association), Local Motion, Renewable Energy Vermont, Vermont Chapter of the Sierra Club, Vermont Clean Cities Coalition, Vermont Energy Investment Corporation, Vermont Natural Resources Council, and the Vermont Public Interest Research Group.