Analysis of Policies to Reduce Oil Consumption and Greenhouse-Gas Emissions from the U.S. Transportation Sector

As the U.S. debates an economy-wide CO2 cap-and-trade policy, the transportation sector remains a significant oil security and climate change concern. Even though the transportation sector consumes the majority of the U.S.'s imported oil and produces a third of total U.S. Greenhouse-Gas (GHG) e...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Policy File 2010
Main Authors: Morrow, W Ross, Gallagher, Kelly Sims, Collantes, Gustavo
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
Energy
Environment
Government
Transportation
Online Access:Request full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:As the U.S. debates an economy-wide CO2 cap-and-trade policy, the transportation sector remains a significant oil security and climate change concern. Even though the transportation sector consumes the majority of the U.S.'s imported oil and produces a third of total U.S. Greenhouse-Gas (GHG) emissions, economy-wide CO2 prices at their currently projected levels will have little impact on this sector. Faced with this reality, the United States has adopted programs such as aggressive new vehicle efficiency standards and the "Cash-for-Clunkers" car scrappage program. Other possible programs include higher gasoline taxes or fees and performance subsidies for low-carbon emitting vehicles, and feebates and incentives for smarter growth. This study examines the impact of five scenarios. We first study an economy-wide cap and trade program along the lines outlined in the American Clean Energy and Security Act.