To reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% below 1990 levels by 2020, Massachusetts hopes to tap federal funds to help enact a 'Pay As You Drive' auto insurance program to reduce transportation emissions.
"Data released by state officials on Wednesday (Dec. 29) indicate that more than one-third of the total greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions in Massachusetts - 33 million metric tons in 2007 - come from the transportation sector. As part of the plan, Mr. Bowles (Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs) said, the state will start a pilot program giving drivers an incentive to cut back on unnecessary travel by linking car-insurance premiums to miles driven - a 'Pay As You Drive' program.
Congress has authorized $15 million in federal Transportation Department grants for such programs, money that could be used to ensure that lower-income drivers do not suffer an unequal burden."
The targets for the MA plan are 25% than that of California's AB 32, that call for reaching 1990 GHG emissions levels by 2020. MA will continue to engage in carbon trading for power plants through the northeast Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
FULL STORY: Massachusetts Sets Targets to Slash Carbon Emissions
Could a Little Black Box Transform Road Funding in the U.S.?
Southern California's powerful regional planning association is one of the many public agencies across the United States that sees the future of road funding in a new technology called a 'black box'.
California Carbon Market Gets a Test Run
When California's carbon market launches in November, it will become the second-largest in the world. A test auction conducted this week with 150 of the companies to be involved in the program went off without a hitch.
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.
Adaptive Reuse Will Create Housing in a Suburban Texas Strip Mall
A developer is reimagining a strip mall property as a mixed-use complex with housing and retail.
Study: Anti-Homelessness Laws Don’t Work
Research shows that punitive measures that criminalized unhoused people don’t help reduce homelessness.
In U.S., Urban Gondolas Face Uphill Battle
Cities in Latin America and Europe have embraced aerial transitways — AKA gondolas — as sustainable, convenient urban transport, especially in tricky geographies. American cities have yet to catch up.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont