The Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act--seizing the future

The Obama Administration and the Department of Transportation believe that making the transition to a clean energy environment and combating climate change are major priorities, and the time to act is now.

One part of that transition is the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act (#cejapa for those of you following on Twitter).

And that's what I and four other senior Administration officials told the Senate Committee on the Environment yesterday.

At DOT, we understand that transportation contributes to--and is affected by--climate change, and therefore our transportation policies must be part of the solution. So transportation must play a role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, decreasing our reliance on oil, creating more livable, sustainable communities, and generating green jobs.

If you've been reading this blog, then you know some of the many ways we are already working hard on these solutions:

• Our interagency partnership with HUD and EPA on Livable & Sustainable Communities
• High Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail
• Recovery Act transit grants and Tiger discretionary grants
• Partnership with EPA on automobile fuel-economy and emissions standards
• NextGen air traffic control system to reduce aviation emissions

These are all programs we have been able to undertake, but with the right legislation, this Department can do so much more.

For example, as Senator Cardin noted, the transit component of this bill "will make a huge difference on the infrastructure we need to conserve energy."

We know that rail and transit buses are cleaner-burning, and we know that when people are on a train or riding transit, they're out of their automobiles. Senator Cardin is correct: in terms of getting CO2 out of the air, the benefits of this bill will be enormous .

Now, passing this historic legislation will be a challenge, and we're going to need forward thinking people to join the effort. As President Obama said:

"They're going to argue that we should do nothing, stand pat, do less or delay action yet again. It's a debate between looking backward and looking forward, between those who are ready to seize the future and those who are afraid of the future."

I, for one, am ready.

Comments

[gold]

Personally I am really excited about the high speed inner city rail! Keep up the good work, thanks guys!

[Michael E. Bailey]

This is legislation we badly need for improved cleaner rail travel and transit travel. And increased use of transit means less greenhouse gas emissions and less smog causing chemical emissions. With support, we can move forward to really clean transit through hydrogen powered buses where the hydrogen fuel is manufactured at the bus base using solar power and all-electric powered buses where the batteries are recharged by solar power. There is more good news from here. The California Supreme Court's decision not to hear the state's appeal of the State Court of Appeals decision saying taking money out of the Transit Operating Fund for other uses was illegal came just in time for state funding to start to come back to OCTA. The OCTA Executive Director said last Monday that the 300,000 bus service hour cut and over 25 route eliminations that had been proposed can now be reduced by up to 50%. That is alittle good news and we can hope for more good news before the OCTA Board makes its final vote the end ofnext month for the March 2010 service changes. Best wishes, Michael E. Bailey.

[Wu Long Tea]

Great post. Electric buses are awesome. I just saw a modern fleet at the World Trade Fair in Shanghai. Definitely the way forward.