U.S. House Democrats Release Election Year Climate Change Action Plan
Last week, the U.S. House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis released a 538-page climate action plan that, among other things, bans traditional vehicles from U.S. roads by requiring that 100 percent of vehicles be “zero-emission vehicles” by 2035 and virtually eliminates fossil fuel use in the home heating fuel sector.
The House Democrats’ plan is dead on arrival in the Senate, however, it will serve as an election year messaging bill to show voters how the Democratic party will act on climate change if they take back the Presidency, Senate and maintain their House majority this November.
The House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis was formed by Speaker Pelosi in January 2019 and tasked with identifying policy options to reduce and eliminate CO2. The Transportation Fairness Alliance highlighted its concerns with the proposal. Click Here for the blog.
Some quick highlights of the Democratic Climate Action Plan include:
— Banning traditional vehicles from U.S. roads by requiring that 100 percent of vehicles be “zero-emission vehicles” by 2035 and medium & heavy-duty vehicles by 2040.
— Reducing net U.S. CO2 emissions by 37 percent below 2010 levels in 2030 and 88 percent below 2010 levels by 2050.
— Reaching net-zero carbon dioxide emissions before 2050, in line with the IPCC’s guidance on emissions reductions needed to limit warming to 1.5°C.
— Achieving net-negative emissions in the second half of the century.
— Achieving Smart and resilient building technologies, grid-integrated buildings, electric and geothermal heat pumps, and low-emission building materials and technologies.
— Expanding energy efficiency tax incentives for residential and commercial buildings.
— Eliminating Tax Breaks for oil and gas companies.
— Replacing the RFS with a Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS).
