April, 23 2009, 03:01pm EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Elliott Negin,Media Director,enegin@ucsusa.org
E+C Testimony on Transportation in Climate and Energy Bill
UCS Vehicles Expert to Testify Before Congress That Cutting Global Warming Emissions Will Reduce Energy Costs
WASHINGTON
UCS
Clean Vehicles Program Research Director David Friedman will testify on
Friday before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee
on Energy and the Environment on the role transportation initiatives
play in climate and energy draft legislation recently introduced by
Reps. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.)
Friedman will share with the committee the transportation-related results of a new UCS analysis that examines how an economywide emissions cap and complementary transportation and energy policies would affect the economy.
Transportation
sector emissions can be significantly reduced, the UCS analysis found.
By 2030, car and light truck carbon emissions could be 40 percent lower
than 2005 levels. A combination of investments in cleaner cars and a
more efficient transportation system would cost about $35 billion in
2030, but would save drivers nearly $120 billion at the pump in that
year. That would result in net savings of about $81 billion - or $580
per household - in addition to savings generated by the fuel economy
standards Congress passed in December 2007.
Putting
technology to work in freight trucks, meanwhile, would produce net
savings of about $38 billion in 2030 and keep their carbon emissions
steady at 2005 levels.
If
policymakers enacted UCS's recommendations, in 2030 the transportation
sector alone would use 3 million barrels a day less than what it
consumed in 2005. That's more oil than the United States currently
imports from the Persian Gulf region.
To
put the country on a path to significantly reduce global warming
emissions from transportation, Friedman will argue that the United
States should:
-- Adopt aggressive heat-trapping emission standards for vehicles.
--
Enact a national low carbon fuel standard based on scientific estimates
of the amount of heat-trapping emissions fuels produce, including the
effects that some biofuel production has on deforestation overseas and
other land use changes.
-- Include transportation in a nationwide carbon emissions cap.
--
Tie federal transportation funding to implementing state transportation
plans that will help people travel fewer miles and emit less pollution.
--
Invest in advanced transportation technology such as fuel cell, plug-in
and battery-electric vehicles, and ultra-low-carbon fuels.
-- Preserve states' rights to initiate stronger transportation and climate policies than the federal government.
To watch the hearing live, go to the House committee's Web site. A copy of Friedman's written testimony will be available online Friday morning.
The Union of Concerned Scientists is the leading science-based nonprofit working for a healthy environment and a safer world. UCS combines independent scientific research and citizen action to develop innovative, practical solutions and to secure responsible changes in government policy, corporate practices, and consumer choices.
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