In the United States, responding to the climate crisis depends on effective partnerships among federal, state, and local governments. When different levels of government collaborate and communicate with each other when they are developing climate and energy policies, they can go farther and faster in achieving durable, equitable, ambitious climate action for the health and welfare of the people across the country.
Much of the historic infusion of investment in resilience, clean energy, and low-carbon transportation infrastructure made possible via the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL or IIJA) and the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) will require implementation at the state and local level.
The choices states and localities make when investing federal infrastructure dollars will meaningfully affect the success of federal and state policies and programs to address greenhouse gas emissions, improve community resilience, and address equity and environmental justice. Ensuring that federal funds are spent in ways that advance GHG emission reductions or climate resilience will require significant engagement by state and local policymakers to secure the necessary results and make sure benefits and costs are shared equitably.
Georgetown Climate Center’s work on infrastructure-related policy currently focuses on four interrelated opportunities:
- Helping state and federal policy makers understand the connections between their use of federal infrastructure funds and near- and long-term reductions in greenhouse gas emissions;
- Identifying opportunities to harness federal investment in infrastructure to improve resilience to the effects of climate change at the state, local and national levels;
- Supporting federal and state policymakers to achieve the equity and environmental justice goals of the Justice40 initiative as they make their infrastructure investment decisions; and
- Connecting policy makers with analysis and tools to accelerate the equitable deployment of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.
Issue Brief: Estimating the Greenhouse Gas Impact of Federal Infrastructure Investments in the IIJA
December 21, 2021
The bipartisan federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act represents a historic investment in the underpinnings of our economy, especially when it comes to transportation. GCC is sharing this new analysis to help understand how these investments could help or hinder state and federal GHG reduction goals.
Memo: Opportunities for Climate-Related State Investments
December 20, 2021
This memorandum provides an overview of funding available to states in the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act, and potentially available in the Build Back Better Act, for climate-related investments along with key considerations for states that wish to take full advantage of this historic opportunity.
Low-Carbon Transportation Policy Options for the Commonwealth of Virginia
May 25, 2021
To inform ongoing conversations among stakeholders and government officials in the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Georgetown Climate Center commissioned analysis by Greenlink Analytics to model a variety of low-carbon transportation policy options. The modeling estimates potential benefits and costs from 2022 to 2040 that could result from these policies, including projected reductions in emissions of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants and effects on jobs, GDP, and public health.
Towards Equitable and Transformative Investments in Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
March 18, 2021
The electrification of cars, trucks, and buses is an important strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollution, and can lead to cleaner air and healthier communities. As federal policymakers develop infrastructure and climate legislation to create jobs and spur economic recovery, the Georgetown Climate Center and M.J. Bradley & Associates have released Towards Equitable and Transformative Investments in Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure, to inform federal investments in electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. Investments in EV charging present opportunities to advance equity and environmental justice, spur job creation, build the clean energy economy, and address the climate and public health crises facing the United States.
Written Statement of Vicki Arroyo before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, July 2019
July 10, 2019
On Wednesday, July 10, 2019, GCC Executive Director Vicki Arroyo testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on the role of transportation in contributing to climate change and the importance of increased investment in low-carbon, more resilient transportation systems to withstand climate change impacts.
Higher Standards: Opportunities for Enhancing Flood Resilience in the Eastern Shore of Maryland
May 22, 2019
This report was prepared by the Georgetown Climate Center for the Eastern Shore Climate Adaptation Partnership (ESCAP) to inform efforts to prepare for impacts of sea-level rise in communities on the Eastern Shore of Maryland as part of the "Mainstreaming Sea Level Rise Preparedness in Local Planning and Policy on Maryland's Eastern Shore" initiative. This report presents opportunities for enhancing flood resilience in Eastern Shore communities through local floodplain regulations, subdivision regulations, and other non-regulatory options including acquisitions, conservation easements, and public education and outreach programs. Case studies highlight how other jurisdictions have used similar approaches to enhance flood resilience and model regulatory language is provided to help jurisdictions implement these approaches.
Written Statement of Vicki Arroyo before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, February 26, 2019
February 28, 2019
On Tuesday, February 26, 2019, GCC Executive Director Vicki Arroyo testified before the full House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure at a hearing entitled "Examining How Federal Infrastructure Policy Could Help Mitigate and Adapt to Climate Change." Arroyo provided spoken and written testimony to the Committee, and fielded questions along with the other panelists.
Regulatory Considerations for Utility Investment in EV Charging Infrastructure
November 13, 2017
A report released from the Georgetown Climate Center and M.J. Bradley & Associates provides an overview of the accelerating electrification of the transportation sector and explores the role of state utility regulators in evaluating potential investments by electric utilities in EV charging infrastructure. The report identifies key considerations for regulators, including the amount of charging infrastructure needed to support EVs, ways that regulators can help ensure equitable access to charging infrastructure, and opportunities to maximize the benefits of utility investment in charging infrastructure.
Issue Brief: States Are in the Driver’s Seat on Transportation Carbon Pollution
March 24, 2023
& By James Bradbury, Zack Subin, Ben Holland, and Ryan Levandowski How states spend federal funding could shift carbon pollution from transportation by as much as 5 percent, making it harder or easier to...
Issue Brief: Flexible Federal Funding Opportunities for State and Local Clean Transportation Investments
February 23, 2023
Executive Summary When it comes to deciding how to spend funds from federal transportation programs, state policymakers — including department of transportation (DOT) officials and state lawmakers — have a...
New Issue Brief from GCC: States have flexibility to invest federal highway funds in climate-smart transportation
February 21, 2023
The U.S. has seen a historic influx of federal funding for improving America's transportation systems, especially through the $1.2 billion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). In a new issue brief, “Flexible Federal...
Webinar Recording: “Advancing New Jersey's Climate Goals with Transportation Infrastructure Investments”
January 26, 2023
On January 20, GCC’s Director of Mitigation Programs James Bradbury was the featured speaker for a virtual Climate Academy presented by the NJ Climate Change Research Center at Rutgers University. Over the next 5...
One Year Later: GCC reflects on the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
November 15, 2022
This article was originally posted as a Twitter thread @Climate_Center. Today marks one year since President Biden signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act...
COP27: GCC to host side event on subnational leadership with The Climate Registry and US Green Building Council
November 9, 2022
Event: Achieving measurable climate benefits through innovative infrastructure investments in North America Date: 10 November, 2022 Time: 11:30 AM to 1 PM Local Time (4:30 - 6 AM Eastern U.S. Time) Location:...
Transportation Agencies from 10 States and D.C. Voice Support for Federal Proposal to Track Greenhouse Gas Emissions from National Highways
October 13, 2022
States Across the Country Say Proposed Performance Measure Can Help Reduce Pollution, Improve Resilience of National Highway System October 13, 2022 — In joint comments submitted to the U.S. Department of...
Driving Resilience: How the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act can support widespread climate resilience
August 11, 2022
Resilience is integrated throughout sections of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) (H.R. 3684, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law) and includes programs that can help alleviate the...
Statement from the Georgetown Climate Center on FHWA's Proposed GHG Performance Measure
July 7, 2022
This morning, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation, released a proposed rule to guide states and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) in measuring and...
8 Ways US States and Cities Can Create a National EV Charging Network
June 23, 2022
By: Devashree Saha (Word Resources Institute), Matthew Goetz (GCC), Dan Lashof (World Resources Institute), Franz Litz (Litz Strategies) Electric vehicles (EVs) are on the rise in the United States. The Biden...