The five transportation secretaries, however, point to a 2017 Federal Register notice that implemented an Obama-era greenhouse gas emissions measurement rule focused on reducing carbon in their letter. The rule, which was later found to be without statutory authority, encouraged states to enact "congestion pricing, road pricing, ramp metering, increased coordination with transit and non-motorized improvements, and paying fees to scrap low mileage heavy duty vehicles." Transportation secretaries argue that the advice was unrealistic for rural states, where people drive long distances to work and perform essential tasks.
The House provision in the reconciliation package would create similar challenges and "raise troubling questions," the authors wrote.
"For example, if a State has low population density, investment in transit options to attract riders to reduce GHG emissions is challenging due to the distance between riders," the authors said. "Further, highway investments in rural states are heavily focused on preservation of existing infrastructure … not on adding through travel capacity. Yet, even under a preservation based [sic] program, if that State experiences economic growth, reducing GHG emissions is a particular challenge, as the economic growth could result in increased emissions."
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The House provision in the reconciliation package would create similar challenges and "raise troubling questions," the authors wrote.
"For example, if a State has low population density, investment in transit options to attract riders to reduce GHG emissions is challenging due to the distance between riders," the authors said. "Further, highway investments in rural states are heavily focused on preservation of existing infrastructure … not on adding through travel capacity. Yet, even under a preservation based [sic] program, if that State experiences economic growth, reducing GHG emissions is a particular challenge, as the economic growth could result in increased emissions."
Reconciliation bill: Transportation secretaries from rural states raise alarm over green energy provision
Five transportation secretaries and 10 senators from rural states are raising an alarm over a green-energy provision in Democrats' reconciliation bill.