Transportation's Role in Reducing U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions ...

Transportation's Role in Reducing U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Volume 1
• Promote more efficient use of existing transportation infrastructure through
price signals that make travelers aware of externalities created by their
transportation choices, including GHG emissions and others.
• Ensure focus on and progress in achieving GHG reduction goals through
performance measurement, accountability, and transparency, consistent with
the Administration’s governing approach.
• Build on the lessons learned from State and regional initiatives, and promote
innovation at the State, regional, and national levels.
• Pursue a coordinated portfolio approach to GHG reductions that taps the
potential of multiple strategy groups. It is unlikely that any single strategy
can achieve the steep GHG reductions being discussed.
• Collaborate with Federal partners to implement effective cross-disciplinary
policies and programs since actions to reduce GHG emissions in the
transportation sector will affect energy, environmental, and economic
policies and programs.
• Promote options that are feasible in terms of technology, timely
implementation, and cost effectiveness.
• Invest in research to develop breakthrough technologies and planning
approaches to lower mitigation costs.
Efficiency Standards
Mechanism • CAFE Rulemaking, National Program
• Climate and energy legislation
Key Options • Fuel economy standards
• GHG emissions standards
• Low carbon fuel standards
DOT Role • NHTSA lead on establishing CAFE standards, in
consultation with Federal partners
• NHTSA and EPA joint rulemaking on National Program
for harmonized vehicle fuel economy and GHG
emission standards
• Administration of fuel economy standards
• Consultation with EPA/DOE on alternative fuels
Magnitude and Timing of Transportation • Modest to moderate in short-term, potentially very high
GHG Reduction
in mid- to long-term
Since the 1970s, The DOT’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) has promulgated fuel economy standards for light-duty vehicles. In
early 2009, NHTSA set new fuel economy standards for the 2011 model year that
will achieve an industry-wide combined fleet average fuel economy of 27.3 miles
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