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September 2007
Researchers to assess options for reducing state greenhouse gas emissions
Melissa Hortman
Frank Hornstein
CTS has received an appropriation from the Minnesota Legislature to assess public policy and technology options for reducing the volume of greenhouse gases (GHG) emitted from the transportation sector in Minnesota.
“The public is asking us to answer these questions,” said Rep. Melissa Hortman, assistant majority leader in the House and co-author of the bill with Rep. Frank Hornstein. “I am eager to hear academic perspectives,” she said. “We need a stronger relationship between the University and the Legislature.”
CTS associate director Laurie McGinnis will provide interdisciplinary leadership and coordinate outreach efforts for the project.
The research team—led by David Kittelson, Department of Mechanical Engineering; Elizabeth Wilson, Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs; and Julian Marshall, Department of Civil Engineering—will investigate a number of possibilities:
- Increasing efficiency by improving vehicle fuel economy (e.g., CAFÉ or carbon emission standards, incentives for more efficient vehicles) and by switching toward other modes (walk, bike, bus, light rail).
- Reducing GHG by substituting alternative fuels for gasoline and by increasing use of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles while encouraging low-GHG electricity generation.
- Shifting land use and transportation infrastructure to reduce transportation energy consumption by increasing urban density and mass transit, encouraging non-vehicle transportation options, and reducing vehicle idling (e.g., trucks at truck stops, ships in port) and airplane circling while queuing to land.
The researchers will evaluate these options within a larger framework that attempts to identify economic tradeoffs, potential externalities and risks, and potential policy drivers.
Their report will identify short-term (up to 2015), medium-term (2015–2025), and long-term (>2025) technologies, strategies, and policies.
The researchers described their expertise at a July framing workshop, which was attended by Hortman; Frank Pafko, Mn/DOT; Peter Ciborowski, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency; and Jan Homan, Metro Transit. McGinnis kicked off the meeting and presented the background of the study and the proposed research approach. “Studies such as this have had important policy impacts in other states, such as California,” she said.
A number of University faculty and researchers have been invited to serve in an advisory capacity for the study: John Adams, Department of Geography and Humphrey Institute; Winthrop Watts, Mechanical Engineering; Jerry Fruin, Stephen Polasky, and Steve Taff, Applied Economics; David Tilman and Jason Hill, Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior; Lanny Schmidt, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science; Ned Mohan, Electrical and Computer Engineering; Steve Manson, Geography; Tim Smith, Bioproducts/Biosystems Engineering; Carissa Schively Slotterback, Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs; and Alfred Marcus, Carlson School of Management.
CTS will report its preliminary findings to the legislature by February 2008 and issue a full report by June 2008. CTS also plans to disseminate the results through various events and presentations.
For more information about the study, please contact Jan Lucke at 612-625-8401, jlucke@cts.umn.edu.