Category Archives: Transportation
INDCs and Why Cities are Important for Global Climate Action
As we approach UNFCCC’s 21st session of the Conference of Parties (COP 21) to take place November 30 – December 11 in Paris, expectations are high that more than 190 nations will be able to come to some kind of … Continue reading
Addressing the Role of Electric Vehicles in Greenhouse Gas Reduction: California Public Utilities Commission
This is the second post in a series looking at legislative and regulatory action addressing Electric Vehicle (EV) greenhouse gas emission (GHGE) reductions. This post focuses on efforts by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). In 2013 Governor Brown, as … Continue reading
What is Business-As-Usual? Projecting Greenhouse Gas Emissions at the Regional Level
Projecting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is important because it helps us to assess how much the energy and GHG policies in place help to achieve targets set by law. For example, if we apply California’s AB32 target to the San … Continue reading
Addressing the Role of Electric Vehicles in Greenhouse Gas Reduction: California State Legislative Action
This is the first post in a series looking at legislative and regulatory action addressing Electric Vehicle (EV) greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions. This first post focuses on state legislative action. California depends on petroleum for 92% of its transportation … Continue reading
Regional Transportation Plan Litigation: Fourth Appellate District Finds SANDAG Transporation Plan Violated CEQA
In Cleveland National Forest Foundation v. SANDAG, a three-judge panel from the California Forth Appellate District heard SANDAG’s appeal of a trial court ruling on the first Regional Transportation Plan put forward by one of the state’s nine regional planning … Continue reading
Low Carbon Fuel Standard Litigation (California)
Introduction (Many thanks to Tyler Blix for his research and contributions for this post). California Assembly Bill 32 (“AB 32”), also known as California’s Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, set a goal for the statewide reduction of GHG emissions … Continue reading
How many pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) does a gallon of gas produce?
Before answering this question it helps to first know how much a gallon of gasoline weighs. Gasoline has a weight of just over 6 pounds per US gallon. A natural guess could then be that about 6 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) … Continue reading
The Real Price of Gasoline
The price of gasoline varies over time and by region, and in many ways affects the lives of the majority of the global population. This post looks at what makes up the price of a gallon of gas and highlights … Continue reading
The MPG Illusion
Assume that you have two cars; an SUV and a compact car. Both cars are aging but you can only afford to replace one. Assume further, that like many families, you still require at least one car with a carrying … Continue reading
New CAFE standards: 54.5 MPG in 2025
The Obama Administration recently approved new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for 2017 – 2025. The new standards are an extension of the 2012 – 2016 CAFE standards. The announcement of 54.5 MPG by 2025 certainly raised some eyebrows. Let’s take a look at what the new … Continue reading