New Biden administration proposal would require states to track highway emissions

Joe Biden’s administration is making strategic plans involving states to decrease emissions to meet the target goal of zero emissions by 2050. So far, less than half of the states in the United States have laws and regulations limiting gas-powered vehicles to zero-emission vehicles. The administration is proposing to require that state transportation agencies set new goals for decreasing tailpipe emissions on the national highway systems.

There is a lot of discussion about this topic since other countries, including China, Japan, and the European Union, easily surpass the United States in climate change reforms and zero-emission vehicle goals. Biden hopes to reduce greenhouse gas pollution in 2030 by 50% to 52% based on 2005 levels.

The policies and target goals, though, are not just about achieving zero emissions but also about providing accurate information about the progress. Under the new proposal by the U.S. Transportation Department, each state will be required to report its progress in creating new goals.

Secretary Pete Buttigieg found the idea strong since the proposal gives the states the right to set emission reduction targets that align with their statuses. In November, a $1 trillion infrastructure bill was approved, which set $6.4 billion for the Carbon Reduction Program. The Carbon Reduction Program is for local and state use to reduce carbon emissions from vehicles.

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