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The Air Force Gets It

October 23, 2009

Posted by Deron Lovaas in Moving Beyond Oil , Solving Global Warming

Tags:
aviation, coal, globalwarming, oildependence

For a long time, the United States Air Force was keenly interested in liquid coal.  But as time went on, the disadvantages became increasingly obvious. This week, we were pleased to discover that the Air Force was no longer pursuing...continued

Green Business in Baltimore

October 22, 2009

Posted by Deron Lovaas in Green Enterprise

Tags:
business, cleantech, cleanvehicles, energyefficiency, markettransformation

October is conference month, it seems. This week I spoke at two conferences, and next week is bookended by two more. First up is one that may be of interest to you, if you live or work in the Baltimore-Washington...continued

What About the Other Energy Bill?

September 23, 2009

Posted by Deron Lovaas in Moving Beyond Oil

Tags:
infrastructure, lightrail, oildependence, publictransit, rail, security, transportation bill, transportation policy

Heading into the fall, the Congressional debate is rightfully focussed on the landmark energy and climate bill as action moves from the House to the Senate. And part of that debate, thanks to NRDC, should be about the pincer move...continued

New Oil Vulnerability Report: Rising Gas Prices Increase Threat of Oil Dependence

August 11, 2009

Posted by Deron Lovaas in Moving Beyond Oil

Tags:
biofuels, cleanvehicles, fueleconomy, hybrids, oildependence, publictransit, ranking, sprawl, states

While last summer's gas price spikes have finally faded in the rearview mirror, I was reminded this morning of how quickly things can change. At my local station, gas is creeping up to $2.62 per gallon. Nationally, in the last 20...continued

Moving Cooler: Solid Research, Right Direction

July 30, 2009

Posted by Deron Lovaas in Solving Global Warming

Tags:
bicycle, CAFE, cars, highways, infrastructure, publictransit, transportation policy

As analysts review this new analysis of transportation measures that can save fuel and cut greenhouse gases, they will be pleased to see that it is truly comprehensive and even-handed. Highway capacity expansion? It examined that. Freight strategies? That too....continued

Moving Cooler: How to Drive Down Oil Dependence and Pollution

July 29, 2009

Posted by Deron Lovaas in Moving Beyond Oil

Tags:
bicycle, cars, highways, infrastructure, publictransit, rail, transportation bill, transportation policy

 Since at least President Nixon, our leaders have been calling for energy independence. And yet our reliance on imported oil keeps rising, and while our top trading partners are friendly countries like Canada we also rely on unfriendly regimes such...continued

Biggest Provision of Recovery Bill Infrastructure $ Can Be Used for Fuel-Efficient Rail Projects Too

March 4, 2009

Posted by Deron Lovaas in Moving Beyond Oil

Tags:
changeinwashington, highways, infrastructure, rail, stimulus, transportation policy

The single biggest pot of money provided to states and local jurisdictions for investments in transportation infrastructure -- a $27.5 billion shot-in-the-arm -- is more flexible than many realize, and President Obama and the recovery.gov web site should remind governors...continued

Changing Direction: Another Hopeful Sign with Appointment of Roy Kienitz

March 2, 2009

Posted by Deron Lovaas in Moving Beyond Oil

Tags:
changeinwashington, greentransition, highways, infrastructure, legislation, oildependence, policy, publictransit, rail, sprawl, transportation bill, transportation policy

  A couple of weeks ago I noted some of President Obama's statements about transportation and land-development which showed that he cares about, and understands, important but oft-overlooked policies that have a huge influence on how much oil the nation...continued

Transportation For America: Building A Cleaner, More Fuel-Efficient Future

February 26, 2009

Posted by Deron Lovaas in Moving Beyond Oil

Tags:
changeinwashington, gasoline, highways, infrastructure, lightrail, oildependence, pollution, publictransit, rail, security, smartercities, transportation bill, transportation policy

A big-tent coalition of groups running the gamut from the National Association of Realtors to the American Public Health Association to NRDC unveiled a new platform for federal transportation policy today as part of the Transportation for America Campaign. Check out...continued

Charging for the Use of Our Roads?

February 24, 2009

Posted by Deron Lovaas in Moving Beyond Oil

Tags:
changeinwashington, DOT, highways, infrastructure, legislation, prices, publictransit, rail, transportation bill, transportation policy

Ah, Washington. This is a lovely town, but it has its quirks. When, for example, taxes are the topic. Sen. Russell Long of Louisiana had a funny saying about the national aversion to the sticky issue of generating revenue: "Don't tax me,...continued

Connecting the Dots: President Obama Begins Laying Out a Vision for Transportation

February 18, 2009

Posted by Deron Lovaas in Moving Beyond Oil

Tags:
changeinwashington, development, energy, gasoline, highways, infrastructure, lightrail, metropolitan, publictransit, rail, smartercities, sprawl, transportation bill, transportation policy

Last week was a remarkably revealing week regarding this new Administration's transportation policy. First, on February 10th at a Florida town hall meeting, President Obama declares that  I think a lot more people are open now to thinking regionally in...continued

Roadmap for a Secure, Low-Carbon Energy Economy

February 11, 2009

Posted by Deron Lovaas in Moving Beyond Oil

Tags:
cleanvehicles, energy, globalwarming, liquidcoal, oildependence, publictransit, security, tarsands, transportation policy

Are the goals of energy security and climatic stability fundamentally at odds? Or can we in the U.S. forge ahead toward a preferred future in which we address both these threats? These are valid questions. While we must be...continued

Un-stimulating Debate on Transportation in the Senate

February 3, 2009

Posted by Deron Lovaas in Moving Beyond Oil

Tags:
globalwarming, highways, infrastructure, lightrail, oildependence, publictransit, rail, stimulus, transportation policy

Watching the Senate debate on the economic recovery bill, I am reminded of a remarkable event in 2001. The Surface Transportation Policy Project held an awards dinner to celebrate the tenth anniversary of ISTEA, the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of...continued

Public Transportation Investment Recovered!

January 28, 2009

Posted by Deron Lovaas in Moving Beyond Oil

Tags:
changeinwashington, infrastructure, legislation, lightrail, oildependence, publictransit, rail, stimulus, transportation policy, victories

The amendment I wrote about just a few hours ago was just passed by voice vote! That means little or no opposition against it. This is a good augury for public transportation, as I imply in the statement we just sent...continued

A Recovery for Transportation Investment?

January 28, 2009

Posted by Deron Lovaas in Moving Beyond Oil

Tags:
changeinwashington, energy, infrastructure, legislation, lightrail, oildependence, publictransit, rail, stimulus, transportation policy

As I’ve written about on these pages and in the Huffington Post, the transportation provisions in the recovery bill need to tilt more towards saving oil and cutting global warming pollution, meaning public transportation and rail. I’m not the only...continued

Deron Lovaas
Deron Lovaas
Federal Transportation Policy Director
Washington, D.C.
I joined NRDC after working for several other conservation groups and Maryland's Environment Department. I...
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