Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Increasing Fuel Economy Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles for the post-
2018 Model Years.
No levels of performance or GHG reductions are specified
in the plan. Model Year 2014- 2018 standards have been promulgated.
Medium- and heavy-duty vehicles are the second largest component of
transportation-sector CO
2
emissions, after light-duty vehicles (passenger cars
and light trucks), while transportation emissions are 33% of U.S. CO
2
emissions and 28% of all U.S. GHG emissions.
19,20
Developing and Deploying Next-Generation Energy Sources for
Transportation
: Continuing to support the Renewable Fuels Standard,
21
the
Administration will invest in research and development on advanced biofuels,
advanced batteries, and fuel cells in every mode of transportation. The
Department of Transportation (DOT) will work with other agencies to explore
how to integrate alternative fuel vessels into the U.S. flag fleet. DOT, the
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the EPA will
work with states, cities, and towns to improve transportation options and lower
transportation costs while protecting the environment.
New Goal for Energy Efficiency Standards
: The President set a goal for
efficiency standards for appliances and federal buildings, promulgated during
his tenure, to reduce carbon emissions by at least 3 billion metric tons
cumulatively by 2030 while also reducing household energy bills.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) Financing of Rural Energy Efficiency:
USDA's Rural Utilities Service Energy Efficiency and Conservation Loan
Program would provide up to $250 million for rural electric utilities to finance
energy efficiency investments by businesses and households. The existing
Rural Energy for America program would streamline grants and loan
guarantees for efficiency and renewable energy investments by agricultural
producers and rural small businesses.
Explore New Incentives for Residential Energy Efficiency
: HUD's
Multifamily Energy Innovation Fund would continue to provide $23 million to
test new approaches to achieve cost-effective residential energy. The Federal
Housing Administration with stakeholders will explore incentives in mortgage
underwriting and appraisal that would factor energy efficiency into sales and
refinancing of homes.
Expand DOE's Voluntary Better Buildings Challenge to Include
Multifamily Housing:
This program, which supports commercial and industrial
building owners to improve energy efficiency by providing technical
assistance and matching partners with allied suppliers, will expand to building
owners and public housing agencies to cover multifamily housing efficiency as
well.
