colinpeppard’s Recent Comments

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  Don't Forget Green Transportation!!

  I'm glad to see everyone excited about the potential for a "green stimulus."  Improving our economy by investing in our future and protecting us from climate change is the way forward!  But I am concerned about the inclusion of billions of dollars for roads and highways in every stimulus package I've seen so far!  

  A truly "green" stimulus or economic package must be about more than investments renewable energy, efficiency measures, smart grid technology, high-efficiency vehicles, and other electricity and fuel investments.  It needs to be about "green" transportation - mass transit and smart growth (mixed-use, transit-oriented, walkable) development.  

  More roads will move both the economy and environment in the wrong direction.  More roads mean more driving, which means more carbon.  Not only will more roads move the carbon needle in the wrong direction, but they will ultimately move the economic needle in the wrong direction.  Energy experts and economist are predicting that oil is headed back over $100/brl in the near future.  By leaving Americans no other choice besides their cars, we are locking them in to paying whatever price is set by rising global demand, ExxonMobil, and OPEC.

  Investing in mass transit and smart growth will boost the economy.  Building and operating transit can create millions of jobs - more than building new roads and bridges.  Homes in walkable, mixed-use areas near transit have held their value, as most home prices have plummeted.  Many real estate experts see smart growth development as the future of real estate and a significant business opportunity.

  The Dems would do well not to fall into the trap of the old New Deal ways by plowing cash into asphalt.On Obama, Pelosi, wonks, and enviros call for green economic stimulus posted 1 year ago 7 Responses

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  What about Transportation Secretary?!?

  Why does everyone leave out this potentially critical position when talking about key environmental appointments?  The U.S. transportation sector is more than 1/3 of our greenhouse gas problem.  Efficient cars and alternative fuels are not going to be enough to solve the problem.  

  We need a new mission at US Dept. of Transportation to quit building ever more highway lanes and interchanges and begin building out a national system of efficient public transportation and passenger rail, along with an expansion of freight rail.  Paired with smarter metropolitan land development, there is the potential for huge GHG reductions.

  Some thoughts for DOT Secretary:
  Congressman Earl Blumenauer, OR
  Doug Foy, Serrafix Principle and former MA Director of Commonwealth Development
  Former Governor Parris Glendening, MD On Meet the people who might fill top environmental jobs in an Obama administration posted 1 year ago 8 Responses

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  Colin Peppard

  Jon -

  Friends of the Earth, along with many of the organizations listed on the letter linked in this post, actually accomplished something like what you suggest this winter and spring.  We were able to include a fund in the Lieberman-Warner climate bill (as well as similar funds in Ed Markey's iCAP legislation and Lloyd Doggett's Climate MATTERS Act) that would invest in smarter land use and housing development, as well as public transportation, to help reduce GHGs from the residential and transportation sectors.  

  Most of these policies unfortunately don't specifically single out location efficient mortgages, though hopefully future climate policy will.  Investing revenue from a climate bill in this sort of policy not only helps reduce GHGs, but also helps folks cope with rising energy prices.  Not a bad win-win!

  Thanks!On Bipartisan group of House members rolls out bill for gas-price relief posted 1 year, 4 months ago 3 Responses

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  Bill - 1; Bobby - 0

  There was a previous thread on the Gristmill where many seemed to agree with RFK Jr. in opposition to Cape Wind.  As someone who worked to support the Cape Cod wind farm for almost 2 years, I was really dejected that my fellow Gristies didn't seem to get it.  There were a million things I wanted to say, from corrections of RFK's facts to emotional appeals about the priority of clean energy.  McKibben did a great job of saying them for me, and probably with a lot more tact!  Thanks, Bill!On Climate change is pushing this easygoing enviro over the edge posted 3 years, 10 months ago 57 Responses

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  Bill - 1; Bobby - 0

  There was a previous thread on the Gristmill where many seemed to agree with RFK Jr. in opposition to Cape Wind.  As someone who worked to support the Cape Cod wind farm for almost 2 years, I was really dejected that my fellow Gristies didn't seem to get it.  There were a million things I wanted to say, from corrections of RFK's facts to emotional appeals about the priority of clean energy.  McKibben did a great job of saying them for me, and probably with a lot more tact!  Thanks, Bill!On RFK Jr. and other prominent enviros face off over Cape Cod wind farm posted 3 years, 10 months ago 57 Responses