Maryland Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction and Bikes

Maryland is developing a statewide, multi-agency proposal to comply with the Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Act.

The draft plan is the result of a 2009 law passed by the General Assembly requiring that Maryland reduce emissions 25 percent by 2020.

Reductions are calculated based on a 2006 baseline study, which determined that the state produced 106 million metric tons of carbon-dioxide equivalent gases each year. If no steps are taken, that number will increase to 140 million by 2020.

The draft plan contains 65 programs aimed at reducing greenhouse emissions while creating green jobs and growing the economy.

And it includes bicycle initiatives

Bicycle and clean-car initiatives, for example, could spin off dozens of jobs in the retail sector

Specifically, these items include (page 186) bicycle/pedestrian enhancements, bike racks on transit, construction of bike lanes and paths, and the East Coast Greenway.

But Thomas Firey, senior fellow with the conservative Maryland Public Policy Institute pooh-pooh's them

initiatives such as electric vehicles or increased pedestrian and bike transportation, examples of which are included in the draft plan, tend to be a waste of effort, Firey said. Electric vehicles ultimately don’t eliminate emissions, but rather shift them from the tailpipe to the factory where they’re made. And while bike paths often sound like a good idea, they’re not effective in getting people to bicycle to work, he said.

A recent study shows otherwise. And bicycling to work need not be the only goal. Getting people to bike for errands or to church or to school - anything that replaces a car trip - should be the real goal if reducing greenhouse gas is the aim. Besides, there is more to the plan than just "bike paths" as noted above.

Looking at the report, the pedestrian and bicycle programs are expected to reduce emissions by 410,000 metric tons by 2020, which is a pretty small part of the needed reduction, but at a very low cost. In fact the study shows that these initiatives will result in increased economic activity and 135 jobs.

Though, I do agree with him that "Cap-and-trade programs are the most efficient way to reduce emissions."

If you'd like to comment, you have some time.

Not all of the 65 programs have been developed in full detail, and the department will be accepting public comment on the plan through Aug. 17

Comments

[Early Man]

Cap and trade may be a more efficient way to reduce emissions, but it is not the most efficient. A carbon dividend would be much broader based, increase the costs of individuals and businesses that choose not to reduce carbon emissions and provide extra cash for those of us who do.

[charlie]

"the state produced.." does that mean the goverment of Maryland or the total emissions coming from Maryland.

I'm always worried about how they come up with those numbers, since industrial plants and cars dont' have little co2 meters in back. Yes, I know all models are bad but some are useful, but some are really of.

That being said, I think the best argument for bikes is not carbon reduction but gasoline import reduction. And it is in particular the small trips (which aren't showing up in these models) where bikes/walking can make such a huge difference.

[washcycle]

I think it means the total emissions coming from Maryland.

I actually think the best argument for bikes is fighting obesity and thus skyrocketing health costs. It should appeal to both parties.

[charlie]

@Washcycle; well, everyone knows fat people vote Republican.

[Kolohe]

1) Ugh, sea level rise pics are always crap, because sea level rise is not linear.

2) More bike infrastructure is fine and whatever sells it is (mostly) fine, but I'm still skeptical of a win/win here.

3) It's really hard for a small state to take decisive unilateral action as it is much easier for bordering jurisdictions to pick off the marginal cases luring them with a more agreeable regulatory regime.

(which is also to say, it's different than something like Bay runoff prevention, where both the cost and the bennefit is largely borne by Maryland - though there are others involved of course. CO2 emmisions though? Whatever Maryland does over the next 10 years - or 50 years, is going to be dwarfed, and cancelled out, at what China and India do *next* year)