The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) recently issued a fact-sheet detailing the amount of infrastructure investment Connecticut needs to make in order to receive five times the amount in matching funds from the Senate-passed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). According to the legislation, the state of Connecticut must provide at least 20% of the earmarked funds for the state for it to receive funds from the federal government. For example: Connecticut could receive $25 million in federal funds to replace diesel school buses with electric buses. To receive those funds, Connecticut must match at least 20% of the investment with in-state revenue, or $5 million in this example.

Union of Concerned Scientists Report

In a new analysis, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) found that African American, Asian American and Latino residents of the region face significantly higher exposure to pollutants known as PM 2.5—airborne particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter.

Transportation & Climate Initiative Webinar

TCI-101 webinar features the basics on Transportation & Climate Initiative and its cap-and-invest framework, along with fresh perspective on policy developments, goals for implementation, and the broad based advocacy campaign by Our Transportation Future.  TCI-101 was presented by policy, public health and environmental experts, who mapped out the current state of the policy and how others can get involved to help shape the Transportation & Climate Initiative.

Report by Center for Sustainable Energy

This report explores three North American cap-and-invest systems for reducing GHG emissions, with the goal of providing policy-makers with a better understanding of how cap-and-invest systems work, identifying lessons learned and outlining policy recommendations for creating an economy-wide capand-invest system for GHG emissions for Vermont. Specifically, the report looks at the following.

• Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), in which Vermont currently participates that covers carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from electric generation
• California cap-and-invest system, which covers GHG emissions from electric generation, transportation and heating sectors and industrial processes1
• Quebec cap-and-invest system, which is linked with California through the Western Climate Initiative (WCI) and covers GHG emissions from electric generation, transportation and home
heating sectors and industry2

Report by NRDC

Our transportation system—the complex network of roads, bridges, railways, ports, bike paths, sidewalks, and waterways that unites our country and allows the free movement of people and goods—is broken.

Report by NRDC

Seven states in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic plus Washington, D.C. have pledged to work together to rebuild their transportation system for the 21st century. Given the looming threat of climate change, it is clear that this system must be stronger, cleaner, and more equitable. This report offers a blueprint for such a system. In it, NRDC recommends walkable, bikeable streets and expanded, accessible public transit. We also recommend expanding electric cars, buses, trains, and even garbage trucks—with the charging infrastructure to keep them going. Lastly, we implore decisionmakers to prioritize vulnerable and historically marginalized communities, including the elderly, low-income communities, and communities of color.

Report by Acadia Center

Massachusetts’ transportation system is due for an upgrade. Outdated infrastructure, congested roads, and polluted air are a drag on the economy. Massachusetts’ residents and businesses deserve transportation options that will help them thrive, and the Commonwealth can achieve that goal by focusing on the actions outlined in this report.

Report by Union of Concerned Scientists

The transition to clean vehicle technologies such as electric vehicles will benefit consumers everywhere, promising lower operating and maintenance costs, along with less pollution and a cleaner environment.

But the drivers with the greatest economic potential to gain by purchasing an electric vehicle are the residents of small towns and rural counties. Drivers living outside of urban areas often have farther to travel to work, shop, and visit a doctor. They have to repair their vehicles more frequently, they produce more carbon emissions per capita, and they spend more money on gasoline. As a result, rural drivers have the greatest potential to save money by making the switch to an electric vehicle.

Report by Sierra Club

A new survey from Sierra Club across 11 states in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions and the District of Columbia found significant support for modernizing our transportation sector.  The survey included oversamples that deep dive into voters opinions in New York State, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, Delaware, and Maryland. The Transportation Modernization Survey carried out for the Sierra Club by Public Policy Polling (PPP), shows broad-based, bipartisan, support for a regional coalition of states to implement modern clean transportation solutions, with folks from all walks of life revealing a deeper understanding of transportation issues.

Report by Ceres

This Analyst Brief evaluates the economic impacts of retaining or weakening the current Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) and greenhouse gas (GHG) regulations on automakers and their suppliers under four fuel price scenarios. We conclude that the auto industry would be profitable in all credible fuel price scenarios under current standards, and that weakened standards would lead to supplier business losses and, in the event of a future fuel price shock, a higher risk of Detroit 3 market share losses.