Transportation Reauthorization Bill Runs Low on Energy Efficiency
President Barack Obama signed the transportation funding bill into law July 6. The “Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act” (H.R. 4348) funds several energy-saving measures, but it’s not enough to make a dent in the huge amount of energy that the transportation sector consumes (currently 28% of all energy in the United States).
What H.R. 4348 Does
The reauthorization bill, for the most part, simply extends current funding levels for another two years. Although it’s not a funding boost, it helps the transportation system avoid wasting a significant amount of energy. It also keeps hundreds of thousands of workers employed in current transit projects.
Reauthorization provisions include:
- Making infrastructure repairs
- Creating a primary freight network
- Updating traffic management technology
- Setting targets for improved traffic flow
What H.R. 4348 Doesn’t Do
“Overall, we believe the measure leaves the country stuck in neutral — with respect to transportation efficiency improvements — when we should be putting the pedal to the metal on such investments,” said Alliance President Kateri Callahan.
The bill misses the mark by:
- Not increasing investment in public transportation
- Giving higher incentives to commuters who park their cars near the office than those who ride public transit
- Decreasing funds for bicycle and pedestrian projects
If the law had made relatively modest investments in a variety of energy efficiency programs, it could have sparked big energy savings, slashed emissions, and spurred job creation for new projects.
What’s Next for Transportation Reauthorization
Now that the transportation community knows what to expect for the next two years (after a year of short-term plans), it can work on covered projects in earnest. Meanwhile, energy efficiency advocates who supported this bill are mobilized to fight for an even more energy-efficient transportation bill two years from now.
Read the full Alliance to Save Energy press release (July 6, 2012).
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