The New England and Eastern Canada 2007 Report Card on Climate Change Action came out Wednesday, noting that the states and provinces are not on target to meet the goals they agreed to in 2001 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2010.
The report hails Vermont's energy-efficiency program, then slams Gov. Jim Douglas for not going along with expansion of it. This should be no surprise to anyone with a pulse in Vermont. The Vermont section of the report was compiled by the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, nemesis numero uno to Douglas on this issue. Or is it vice-versa?
The report doesn't do much other hailing. It's fairly critical of everybody's efforts, but among other items it highlighted as good:
- Prince Edward Island's achievement of 15 percent of its electricity from wind and biomass, which was three years ahead of schedule.
- Quebec's carbon tax, generating $200 million a year, to fund greenhouse gas emission reduction efforts, much of it public transportation.
- Connecticut's exemption from sales tax of vehicles that achieve 40 mpg or more.
- Connecticut and Rhode Island's building codes, though the report says no state or province has rules that are stringent enough.
As for Vermont's grades, the state received an F for pollution reduction, as did Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
Vermont's emissions increased from 5 million metric tons carbon equivalent in 1990 to 6 in 2002 and 7 in 2004, the report said.
Vermont received a "C" on climate change policy. The highest grade went to Quebec, a B+.
The report also says Vermont needs "compact transit oriented development" and a strict "fix-it-first" transportation policy. It doesn't mention that the Douglas administration has adopted a fix-it-first policy for roads and bridges.
Transportation is one area where the report card gives Vermont a low grade - a D+, and no state or province is doing enough to reduce this largest and fastest-rising sector.
- Terri Hallenbeck
