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

Transportation’s Role in Reducing U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Volume 2
this analysis found that a GHG reduction in 2030 of 0.2 to 0.3 mmt CO2e could be
achieved, depending upon the total number of regions where UCCs are applied.
Assuming that the UCC concept was proven viable in the U.S., UCCs could be
implemented within a few years. The primary requirements are to establish suitable sites
as well as a revised distribution structure, working with private shippers.
Cost-Effectiveness
The general European consensus is that in the long-term UCCs must be financially
successful in their own right, and that subsidies are not a viable solution. This means they
would pay for themselves through reductions in shippers’ operating costs, and therefore
have zero (or negative) cost per tonne of GHG reduced. However, the European studies
also recognize that without some initial funding from central or local government to pay
for research work and pilot studies, UCCs are unlikely to be developed, let alone succeed.
The Moving Cooler study U.S. assumes development costs of $5 million per 1 million
population. This results in a net cost-effectiveness of $30 to $60 per tonne CO2 reduced
over the 2010 to 2050 period, including investment costs only, or savings of about $300 per
tonne CO2e, including reduced shipping costs (Cambridge Systematics, 2009).
Cobenefits
Consolidation of goods has additional economic and environmental benefits. From an
economic perspective consolidation can help to increase the volume of goods carried on
vehicles entering a given urban area, thereby reducing the unit costs of transportation for
the final delivery stage, as well as reduce the number of deliveries that have to be received
at a location, thereby reducing the disruption and labor requirements associated with
receiving multiple deliveries. From an environmental and quality of life perspective,
consolidation can help to reduce fuel consumption and total truck volumes in urban areas,
thereby reducing criteria air pollutant emissions, as well as improve quality of life in
urban areas by removing delivery trucks from city streets.
Reductions in criteria pollutant emissions will depend upon the emissions characteristics
and VMT of the specific types of vehicles utilized. Quantitative estimates of emissions
reductions have not been developed. Some negative impacts may be realized in the
immediate vicinity of the center due to the increased concentration of truck traffic at the
center. Careful siting will be important to minimize impacts on residential
neighborhoods.
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