House Committee Focuses on Smart Development and Transportation Choices as Responses to Energy Costs and Climate Change

Transportation and home energy costs for American families vary greatly depending on the community and region in which they live.  That was one of the major themes explored by the House Select Committee on Energy Independence & Global Warming, chaired by Representative Edward Markey (D-MA) in a hearing on June 18, 2008.  Communities with more efficient development patterns, building practices, and transportation choices (including options to walk, bike, and use transit) provide substantial energy and cost savings to residents while reducing emissions of greenhouse gases associated with global warming.  Recent data indicates some households are paying more than 30 percent of their net income on transportation costs, whereas other households spend less than 10 percent.  Higher transportation costs are generally correlated with ex-urban locations removed from transit service and development centers, while some regions are more affordable on average than others in terms of transportation costs—some regions are reporting gasoline expenses alone accounting for up to 16 percent of average household  income (see interactive map from June 9 New York Times article).

Additional information is available at:
http://globalwarming.house.gov/mediacenter/pressreleases_2008?id=0006#main_content
http://www.eesi.org/briefings/2008/042508_growingcooler/042508_growingcooler_notice.html