Photo: welcomia via Shutterstock
December 17, 2019 (BOSTON, MA) – Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) released the following statement today as a regional coalition of states issued a draft memorandum of understanding outlining key details for the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI). TCI is a collaboration of 12 states from New England to the Mid-Atlantic and the District of Columbia working together to improve transportation, reduce carbon emissions, and develop a clean energy economy.
“This state agreement moves us toward much-needed regional collaboration to confront the climate crisis,” said Amy Laura Cahn, Director of CLF’s Healthy Communities and Environmental Justice program. “Urgent and bold action is necessary to tackle the scourge of carbon emissions and jumpstart clean transportation options for New Englanders. We also need more immediate solutions that improve air quality for residents in pollution hotspots.”
The draft memo outlines plans for reducing carbon pollution in the transportation sector by charging motor vehicle fuel suppliers for the emissions resulting from gasoline and diesel fuel use. The revenue would be used to help participating states invest in public transit improvements, electric vehicles, clean school buses, park-and-rides, and bike infrastructure.
CLF experts are available for further comment.
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