Russ Steele
The Public Policy Institute of California has published a report: Driving Change -- Reducing Vehicle Miles Traveled in California
The repost says that for California to meet CARB's greenhouse gases reduction goals, the cost of driving needs to be increased to get people of their cars. From the summary:
Senate Bill (SB) 375, adopted in 2008, calls on regional transportation planning agencies and local governments to develop strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from passenger vehicles by reducing per capita vehicle miles traveled (VMT). Three specific strategies, traditionally used to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality, are to be employed to help reduce emissions:
- Higher-density development, particularly in areas well-served by transit;
- Investments in alternatives to solo driving, such as transit, biking, walking, and carpooling;
- Pricing policies that raise the cost of driving and parking. [Emphasis added]
Through the fine work of the Regional Council of Rural Counties and a Coalition of Rural Transportation Commission Executives, rural counties were given an exemption from the provisions of SB 375. The exemption will last until CARB determines that the metro areas are not meeting their goals and more action is required for CARB to satisfy their CO2 reduction goals. Even thought SB 375's impact is currently on larger metro areas, there will be regional economic impacts.
Nevada County's economy is in part based on tourism and recreation, which will be negatively impacted as the cost of driving goes up. We have already seen the cost of $4.00 a gallon gas. Twenty nine percent of Nevada County's work force are commuters who drive to the Sacramento region for work. As the cost of driving goes up, these workers will have to move to the valley, or pay the price of commuting. Those commuters will have less money to spend in the County. Higher fuel costs will make doing business in rural Nevada County more expensive. Each of these factors will have a negative economic impact on our local economy.
The real issue is that the science used to justify SB 375 is flawed. It is based on flawed computer models, not on verifiable science. There is a significant body of evidence that human CO2 emissions are NOT responsible for global warming. Evidence that is being ignored by CARB and the Legislature. Driving Californian's out of their cars, will not have any impact on California temperatures. So, the real issue is not climate change but social engineering by the left to create a green utopia in urban areas. The problem is the citizens of rural counties will pay the price for this scientific abuse.
H/T to KQED Climate Watch
