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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.

Attachment:

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Date and Time Comment Was Submitted: 2008-07-28 13:29:17



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