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星期一, 12月 21, 2020

麻州簽備忘錄 計畫2032年起課徵二氧化碳排放稅

麻州州長查理貝克宣佈麻州持續關注氣候變化議題,推動相關措施。
              (Boston Orange編譯)麻州政府今日(1221)宣佈,和康州,羅德島州及華府(D. C.)簽署致力合作備忘錄(MOU),課徵二氧化碳排放(carbon emissions)稅,以期2032年時麻州汽車汙染可減少26%,並得到資金18億元做清潔能源基礎建設。

              這是個不分黨派的「交通及氣候項目(TCI-P)」,將設定汽車廢氣排放上限,並要求數以百計能源分銷公司為他們購買製造二氧化碳許可,並容許參與的司法管轄區(jurisdictions)"在公平,清潔的交通選擇上做投資,讓整個麻州及新英格蘭地區的公眾健康得到大幅度改善,還創造很多新就業機會。

              能源公司增加的開銷,很可能會轉嫁給駕駛人,從而導致汽油價格上涨大約每加侖59分錢。各州政府將用這些錢來投資低二氧化碳的交通計畫,增加公共交通工具,補助購買電子汽車,設置充電站等等。

              這計畫是以2009年推出,在電力領域採用上限及交易方式,資助了諸如「麻州節省(MassSave)」等能源節約項目的區域溫室瓦斯計畫(Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative)為模型所設計的。

              州政府人員表示,麻州等這4個州及地區的這一合作,旨在減少全美溫室瓦斯最大來源的交通廢氣排放。如果參與討論的12個州都加入這一計畫,幾乎全美四分之一的人口都會被包括在內了,目前則只有大約4%

              麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie )早前才推出2050計畫藍圖,承諾到2050年時,麻州要做到零排放。

              在新英格蘭地區,有40%的溫室瓦斯排放是交通帶來的,而人們暴露於汙染的空氣,會加劇肺及心臟疾病,造成哮喘病,增加中風,以及其他嚴重健康狀況的危險。

為處理這些挑戰,到2023年時,這項新計畫將從每加侖汽油加價5分錢到9分錢的收益中,為麻州帶來16000萬元,進而得以提供更好交通選擇,從而減少汙染,改善健康,增長經濟。

              麻州能源卿Kathleen Theoharides表示,加入計畫的三個州,一個地區將致力達到減少排放的目標。

              相關人員估計,前述四個地區實施這一做法後,估計一年可得3億元。

Massachusetts, New England States, and D.C. Commit to Groundbreaking Regional Program to Reduce Pollution, Invest in Clean Transportation

All Transportation and Climate Initiative States Remain Active in Program, Commit to Continued Collaboration

 

BOSTON – Today, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo and Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) committing to a groundbreaking multi-state program that will reduce motor vehicle pollution by at least 26 percent and generate over $1.8 billion in Massachusetts by 2032. The bipartisan Transportation and Climate Initiative Program (TCI-P) will allow participating jurisdictions to invest in equitable, cleaner transportation options, and create significant new employment opportunities while substantially improving public health across the Commonwealth and New England.

 

Underscoring the importance of regional action, other Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI) jurisdictions released a joint statement committing to continued collaboration on the development of the regional program, as well as working to identify additional regional strategies to reduce air pollution, create healthier communities, and invest in cleaner, more equitable transportation systems. Significantly, the State of North Carolina joined the joint statement, committing for the first time to working with the other TCI jurisdictions on the development of the program. With the issuance of the MOU, the remaining TCI jurisdictions have the ability to formally sign the MOU at any time. The program is slated to begin in 2023 after a reporting year to allow for additional jurisdictions to sign on.

 

“As a Commonwealth, we have an obligation to address climate change head on and a challenge this great requires action across our region and nation. That’s why I am proud to join Governor Lamont, Governor Raimondo and Mayor Bowser to launch this trailblazing program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while building the clean, resilient transportation system of the future,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “By partnering with our neighbor states with which we share tightly connected economies and transportation systems, we can make a more significant impact on climate change while creating jobs and growing the economy as a result. Several other Transportation and Climate Initiative states are also committing to this effort today and we look forward to these partners moving ahead with us as we build out this first in the nation program.”

 

In a region with nation-leading climate goals, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Washington, D.C. are committing to bold action to ensure the achievement of emissions reduction targets while positioning the jurisdictions and region as leaders in the clean transportation economy. Accounting for 73 percent of the transportation emissions, 76 percent of the vehicles, and 75 to 80 percent of the gross domestic product in New England, the three states and Washington D.C. are taking this action at a time when the impacts of climate change continue to be felt across the country and region.

 

“Engaging in this way with my fellow governors and Mayor Bowser accomplishes goals we have set for Connecticut for years,” said Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont. “Participating in the TCI-P will help grow our economy through a fresh injection of capital to provide for jobs and new infrastructure. This collaboration will cut our greenhouse gas emissions, and it will make our urban centers healthier, after decades of being adversely impacted by the emissions being released by traffic every day. Connecticut has always taken pride in our leadership role when it comes to climate, and when we can combine that with a stronger economy, fast transit systems, and regional cooperation, that’s a win for all of us.”

 

“Joining the Transportation and Climate Initiative is an investment in Rhode Islanders,” said Rhode Island Governor Gina M. Raimondo. “This first-of-its-kind program will provide $20 million annually for public transit, safe streets for bikers and pedestrians, and other green projects. Most importantly, it will provide much-needed relief for the urban communities who suffer lifelong health problems as a result of dirty air. I look forward to working with the Rhode Island General Assembly to launch this program and protect the health of Rhode Islanders.”

 

“My vision is for the District to be the healthiest, greenest, most liveable city for all our residents,” said Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. “To realize that vision, we have ambitious goals – for mobility, equity, and climate – and this program is an opportunity to accelerate all three, together. That’s why I’m proud to join this collaboration, leveraging a multi-jurisdictional commitment to cutting pollution to deliver real health benefits and investment dollars for all eight Wards.” 

 

In New England, transportation is responsible for over 40 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, and exposure to air pollution exacerbates lung and heart ailments, causes asthma attacks, and increases the risk of a stroke and other serious health conditions. To address these challenges, the new program will make available over $160 million in allowance auction proceeds to Massachusetts by 2023  — money to provide better transportation options that result in less pollution, improved health, and a growing economy. 

 

“The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need to proactively invest in protecting public health, especially in communities most affected by air pollution,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “The Transportation and Climate Initiative Program provides a critical opportunity to improve air quality throughout the Commonwealth, create jobs for Massachusetts residents, and help our state and regional economies recover.”

 

“The next decade is pivotal for all levels of government to take deliberate action to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, and this historic multi-jurisdictional program will unlock solutions that reduce emissions and protect our most vulnerable residents in environmental justice communities and communities underserved by transportation options,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides. “Importantly, all TCI jurisdictions have committed to continuing their work together on the program, and we look forward to welcoming additional states into the program while continuing our work across the region to meet our Net Zero climate goals here in Massachusetts, improving local air quality, and deploying new, clean transportation options.”

 

The TCI-P jurisdictions have committed to invest 35 percent of annual revenue in communities underserved by current transportation options, and with disproportionately high levels of pollution. To ensure equitable clean transportation outcomes, Massachusetts will designate an advisory body with diverse representation to identify underserved and overburdened communities, provide guidance for investments, and define goals and metrics for measuring progress.

 

“Tackling a challenge as big as climate change requires regions to work together and both the Memorandum of Understanding and joint statement represent a commitment by a broad group of states to continue collaborating on strategies that can bend the curve on transportation greenhouse gas emissions, which continue to be the largest and fastest growing source of climate-altering pollution,” said Transportation Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack.

 

“We look forward to ongoing engagement with communities, especially those that have been overburdened or underserved,” said Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Martin Suuberg. “MassDEP will work to engage with those communities and all interested parties as we move forward.”

 

“Establishing a multi-state initiative to curb transportation emissions was a key recommendation of Governor Baker's Future of Transportation Commission,” said Metropolitan Area Planning Council Deputy Director Rebecca Davis. “Joining the Transportation Climate Initiative is the best way for the Commonwealth to tackle transportation's role in carbon emissions, improve air quality in our environmental justice communities and raise revenue for essential investments in a sustainable system.”

 

“Ceres welcomes the new bipartisan, multi-state agreement that will help states to tackle the transportation crisis head on,” said Mindy Lubber, President and CEO at the sustainability nonprofit organization Ceres. “The Transportation and Climate Initiative will help improve public health, revitalize state economies, and support local communities that bear the brunt of pollution from transportation. We look forward to working with the business community and states to implement the program and expand it to include additional states in the months to come."

 

TCI-P will require large gasoline and diesel fuel suppliers to purchase “allowances” for the pollution caused by the combustion of fuels they sell in the regions. The total number of emission allowances would decline each year, resulting in less transportation pollution. Each participating jurisdiction will independently decide how to invest program proceeds. These proceeds will be invested in ways that help both urban and rural residents, including improving and expanding public transportation; zero-emission buses, cars, and trucks; electric vehicle charging infrastructure; development of interstate electric vehicle charging corridors;  improving high speed wireless internet in rural and low-income areas to allow for teleworking; repairing existing roads and bridges; and providing safer bike lanes and sidewalks.

 

TCI-P was developed with extensive outreach and input from thousands of residents, stakeholders, businesses, and organizations, as part of the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI), a multi-jurisdictional collaboration of Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast states and the District of Columbia. With the signing of the TCI-P MOU, there will be many additional opportunities for the public to provide feedback during the subsequent development of a model rule, and program implementation.

 

This announcement builds on the Baker-Polito Administration’s leadership on climate change. Earlier this year, Governor Baker committed Massachusetts to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. To determine how best to achieve this emissions limit, the Administration launched its 2050 Roadmap, a nation-leading quantitative and qualitative planning effort that will chart multiple technical and policy pathways by which the Commonwealth can equitably and cost-effectively achieve net zero emissions by 2050. The state’s 2050 Roadmap analysis will directly inform the state’s 2030 emissions limit, which will be set at the end of 2020 together with the publication of a second report, the 2030 Clean Energy and Climate Plan, detailing the Commonwealth’s plan to achieve that limit. Massachusetts continues to lead the nation in climate action, including through the first-in-nation Clean Peak Standard, the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program, participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), clean energy procurements, nation-leading energy efficiency programs, electric vehicle and charging infrastructure incentive programs, and its Clean Energy Standard (CES).

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