While the revised business plan did shave off $30 billion, there remains a $55 billion funding shortfall. Dependent on federal and private funds that may never appear, could revenue from the sale of carbon credits bridge the funding gap?
The CA High Speed Rail project has received $3.3 billion in federal funds but remains dependent on an additional $35.3 billion, plus $13 billion in private investment, neither of which may be forthcoming soon, if at all. Gov. Jerry Brown has suggested that "cap & trade" funds, authorized by the landmark 2006 climate bill, AB 32, could provide revenue as early as November. Anywhere between $2 billion to $4 billion could come from the auction of carbon credits.
The Mercury News transportation reporter Mike Rosenberg, and environmental reporter Paul Rogers, write that the scheme "could either be a brilliant savior for the cash-strapped rail project or a disappointing enigma that disappears under legal scrutiny and opposition from businesses."
"It's the winning-the-lottery scenario," said Dorothy Rothrock, vice president of the California Manufacturers and Technology Association. "Counting on cap-and-trade revenues might not be the wise thing to do if it is so legally suspect that the money will never show up."
"At a news conference Monday in Fresno, rail leaders did little to play up the new funding possibility, nor did they return calls seeking more detail. But critics said it is likely to set off a massive legal showdown between business interests and the state."
Dan Richard, chairman of the California High-Speed Rail Authority, states in the Associated Press (via San Mateo Daily Journal, "(Cap & trade) gives us a backstop dedicated funding stream that gives us confidence that we can go forward".
The High Speed Rail board meets on April 15, Monday, to approve the revised business plan. Utilizing cap & trade funds is not on the agenda. Approval of the MOU for the blended rail agreements for northern and southern California are listed.
FULL STORY: Gov. Brown looks to global warming fees to pay for high-speed rail
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On June 29, the California Strategic Growth Council awarded $121.9 million in Greenhouse Gas Reduction Funds to help build 28 affordable housing developments on major transit lines. Funding originates from proceeds of the cap-and-trade market.
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Jerry Brown signed a $156.3-billion budget on June 20 that marks a new day for greenhouse gas-reducing transportation and sustainable communities projects due to new revenues from the state's cap and trade market now and, particularly, in the future.
California HSR: Banking on Cap and Trade, TIFIA, and More
One positive thing to be said about a project that's been declared on life support by even many of its supporters since a court ruling denied its chief funding source: the Calif. HSR Authority sure is resilient. New funding sources may keep it alive.
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New Jersey’s second-largest city bans standalone data centers
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Amtrak not solely to blame for New Jersey commuter rail's unreliability, report finds
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EPA erases limits on planet-warming pollution from power plants
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Phoenix announces new on-demand transit service, more frequent RAPID buses
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Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association