Current Energy Legislation has Transportation Components

The American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454) recently approved by the Energy and Commerce Committee has many members of the transportation community up in arms. BNA’s Transportation Watch reported on Monday that many stakeholders are fighting the bill’s proposal to require states to submit greenhouse gas reduction plans, including transportation planning options, to the EPA. Industry groups fear that the bill could “end up hurting transportation quality and efficiency in the name of environmental protection.” Their particular concern is that EPA does not have the DOT’s experience in transportation, which could lead to unnecessary delays in approval of transportation projects. Moreover, critics say, the bill would corrupt efforts made in the last transportation authorization to consolidate transportation policy decisions within the DOT.

Yet the general idea of closely tying energy and climate concerns with transportation planning is sound, and solutions for these challenges can also benefit the economy. While the EPA does lack experience in transportation, it is also fair to say that transportation policy to date has not comprehensively focused on reducing transport-sector emissions. In coming months we will see the development of major energy and transportation legislation, presenting the opportunity to integrate energy and climate concerns with transportation investment decisions. Indeed, these challenges are so intertwined that only by addressing all of them in a coordinated fashion can any of them be solved.

This recent piece of energy legislation is not a comprehensive plan to combat the transport-sector’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. However, as concern over climate change escalates and the current economic recession demands increased efficiency in addressing the nation’s problems, now is the time for transportation and environmental leaders to unite. As both energy and transportation legislation move forward, an open mind must be kept toward integrating these vital issues whenever, and in whatever form, the opportunity arises.

-Sarah Fletcher, Daniel Lewis