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Comment 22 for Land Use Comments for the GHG Scoping Plan (sp-landuse-ws) - 1st Workshop.
First Name: Mitchell
Last Name: Austin
Email Address: maustin2@comcast.net
Affiliation: Urban Planner
Subject: Reducing Vehicle Miles Traveled through Land Use
Comment:
The Draft AB 32 Scoping Plan does a great job of identifying all the various parts of the carbon emissions equation. However, the document seems to miss the key role that land use plays in increasing or decreasing energy consumption. The more land human habitation consumes the more energy it takes to move the people, goods and services around in order for an economy to function. In other words you could provide every driver in the State of California with an H2 Hummer and reduce vehicular emissions if accompanied by a reduction in vehicle miles traveled from the present levels of around a 1,000 miles a month to 200 miles a month or less. The way to accomplish an economically viable reduction in vehicle miles traveled is to alter the built environment in order to encourage the use of alternative transportation modes (mass transit, bicycling, walking). Local government regulations are the key to altering the built environment; however without State leadership and acknowledgement of the role of land use in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions it is unlikely that local governments will substantively change land use requirements. Without significant changes to land use patterns, the lofty emissions reduction goals of AB will not be met. Thank you for your time and consideration.
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Date and Time Comment Was Submitted: 2008-07-28 13:29:17
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