Freight Solutions Dialogue 

The potential to reduce GHG emissions from freight movement received early attention in CCAP’s land use and transportation demand management program. In the summer of 2005, CCAP and the U.S. Department of Transportation's Center for Climate and Environmental Forecasting held a Freight Solutions Dialogue (FSD), which brought together a cross section of high-level professionals for two days of informative panel presentations and facilitated discussions.

Attendees agreed that a high priority should be placed on further exploration and quantification of emission reduction opportunities within the U.S. freight distribution system. Following the FSD, CCAP:

• Prepared a detailed research paper quantifying the emissions reductions (greenhouse gases and air pollution) from a wide range of freight policies, measures and technologies;
• Initiated a Low Emission Freight Program with the goal of reducing freight emissions at the Port of New York and New Jersey; and
• Provided support to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to extend its SmartWay voluntary freight emissions reductions effort to Ports.

California Greenhouse Gas Stakeholder Process

In 2004 and 2005, CCAP’s Transportation Team assisted in facilitating a climate change stakeholder process administered by the California Energy Commission (CEC). The team analyzed GHG emission reduction measures such as automobile feebates, alternative fuels, freight and ports, smart growth, aviation and high-speed rail. Results of the analysis and discussion within this stakeholder process fed into the CEC's 2005 Integrated Energy Policy Report.

Puget Sound GHG Reduction Plan and Stakeholder Process

The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is responsible for protecting and enhancing air quality in King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties in the state of Washington. For the Puget Sound region, the transportation sector accounts for more than 70 percent of the region's GHG emissions.

In late 2003, the Agency selected CCAP to provide lead technical analysis for the transportation sector component of its multi-sectoral Climate Protection Process. In this capacity, CCAP was responsible for quantifying a set of measures aimed at reducing GHG emissions from motor vehicles and fuels, through new technology and changes in travel patterns. This yearlong process produced a set of VMT reduction measures aimed at encouraging implementation of GHG friendly alternative travel methods included in the award-winning Destination 2030 Transportation Long Range Plan for the Puget Sound region.

CCAP Transportation Guidebook

The Transportation Guidebook was created to help users quantify emissions and energy savings from smart growth, transit, low-emission vehicles, bio-fuels and freight, and can reduce emissions by 40 percent or more. The guidebook builds upon CCAP analysis and experience helping states and local governments such as Connecticut, Maine, New York and Puget Sound develop GHG reduction plans.