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Comment 37 for Comments on regional targets for SB 375 (sb375-targets-ws) - 1st Workshop.
First Name: Gerald
Last Name: Cauthen
Email Address: Cautn1@aol.com
Affiliation:
Subject: [BATF] Failing to Meet AB 32 Requirements
Comment:
AB 32 calls for California's greenhouse gas (GHG)emissions to be reduced to 1990 levels by 2020. This represents a legitimate effort on the part of Governor Schwarzenegger and the State Legislature to do California's part to stave off, or at least slow, down horrific climate change. In response, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission has just called for per capita GHG emissions to be reduced to 15% below the 2005 level by 2035. For this, it is unaccountably receiving praise in some quarters. First and foremost, in contrast to AB 32, MTC's approach does not take into account Bay Area significant projected population growth, the rate of which is likely to pick up as the economy recovers and as other parts of the northern hemisphere get hotter and drier. Secondly, given the large increase in GHG production that occured between 1990 and 2005 a 15% reduction from the 2005 level...even if it did include provision for population growth which it does not...would still leave the GHG production level 20% above 1990 levels. In fact, given MTC's weak response to the State mandate and considering the trend toward smaller vehicles and more efficient propulsion systems, the Bay Area's regional planners have in reality positioned themselves with little if anything to do. This is underscored by the fact that MTC projects that its anachronistic highway expansions and largely impotent public transit developments will actually increase regional VMT (vehicle miles per day) from the 107.7 million that prevailed in 1990 to 202.8 million by 2030. See http://www.mtc.ca.gov/maps_and_data/datamart/stats/vmt.htm In other words, since the forthcoming increases in fuel economy will by themselves reduce emissions, MTC is doing virtually nothing to address California's GHG problem. On the contrary, as evidenced by the above-indicated VMT increases, MTC's programs actually make the problem worse. If there is anyone who seriously thinks that a 15% per capita reduction in GHG production by 2035 would get us even close to returning to a 1990 total emission level by 2020 as specified in AB 32, I have a shiney new bridge to sell them. Gerald Cauthen
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Date and Time Comment Was Submitted: 2010-08-03 15:49:39
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