With transportation accounting for one-third of our global warming pollution, we need to utilize all possible solutions to greenhouse gas emissions from this sector. Because of current development patterns, Oregonians will continue to be overwhelmingly dependent on personal vehicles for the foreseeable future. That's why Environment Oregon is working to make our cars and fuels "cleaner" while expanding the necessary infrastructure to electrify our personal vehicle fleet.
Clean Cars
In 2005 and 2006, Environment Oregon worked with the Clean Cars for Oregon coalition to get Governor Kulongoski and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to adopt the "Clean Cars Standard" and then we helped build public support while the standard was litigated and upheld in court. Thirteen other states also adopted the Clean Cars standard and in 2010 the Obama Administration adopted it nationwide.
The national Clean Cars standard means that starting in model year 2010 cars will be substantially more fuel efficient and emit less greenhouse gas out the tailpipe. By 2016, vehicles will be on average 35% more fuel efficient.
Environment Oregon is now working for the Clean Cars Phase II standard -- getting Oregon beyond 2016.
Clean Fuels
In 2009, Environment Oregon passed a "low carbon fuel standard" requiring that Oregon's fuels be 10% less polluting of greenhouse gases by 2020. This was the first low carbon fuel standard to be adopted legislatively in the nation. Environment Oregon is now participating on the state advisory committee to assure successful implementation of this groundbreaking law.
Clean Trucks
Some of the biggest gains in reducing greenhouse gas emissions can come from simply installing simple aerodynamic technologies onto shipping trucks and from reducing the amount of time trucks idling (either at loading docks or for overnight sleeping). Environment Oregon is now participating on the state study group to explore recommendations to the 2011 legislative session on how to make improvements in these areas.
Plug-in Cars
Without a doubt, the age of electric cars is upon us. The existing electrical grid already has the capacity to switch-over 74% of America's vehicles to plug-in cars. While plug-in cars are still fueled by power plants that burn fossil fuels (as well as by existing wind and solar), plug-in cars emit on average 27% less greenhouse gases than gasoline-powered cars. Portland already lays claim to the most robust plug-in infrastructure in America and now the Nissan Leaf pilot project will bring even more plug-in stations from Eugene to Corvallis to Portland. At the same time, Eugene's Arcimoto and Medford's Brammo Motors are leading the way for manufacturing electric cars and motorcycles.
