Keaton PetersThe U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has plans to decarbonize America’s transportation sector. Working in partnership with the Departments of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and the Environmental Protection Agency, the DOE recently published seven plans to slash emissions, each targeting a different transportation mode, including maritime, rail, trucking, aviation and off-road vehicles, with a focus on reducing emissions while boosting economic competitiveness.
The plans were developed in collaboration with industry stakeholders and built upon the U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization released in 2023.
As the transportation sector accounts for 33% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and remains the second-highest expense for consumers, these action plans arrive at a critical juncture. The initiative looks to address both environmental concerns and affordability, particularly in communities near transportation hubs that face increased health risks from pollution.
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“Vehicles move us and our economy, transporting people and goods across 3 trillion vehicle miles annually,” said Michael Berube, deputy assistant secretary for the Office of Sustainable Transportation and Fuels. Berube said the plans would help maintain U.S. competitiveness while reducing both costs and pollution.
The Aviation Action Plan outlines a strategy to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from aviation by 2050. The plan focuses on several key areas including aircraft and engine technology development, sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), operational improvements and international leadership. A major goal is producing 35 billion gallons of domestic SAF annually by 2050, alongside significant improvements in aircraft fuel efficiency and modernization of airspace operations.
The Efficient Transportation Action Plan looks to reduce energy intensity across all transportation modes through improved vehicle efficiency, expanded public transportation options and smarter system operations. Key actions include implementing stricter fuel economy standards, increasing funding for public transit and leveraging technology to optimize freight movement and reduce idling.
The Convenient Transportation Action Plan focuses on community design and land-use planning to reduce trip distances and enable more walking, biking and public transit use. The strategy includes promoting transit-oriented development, reforming parking policies, improving active transportation infrastructure and making investments that prioritize maintenance over highway expansion.
The Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicle Action Plan targets emissions reductions in the trucking sector. Key elements include eliminating the cost difference between zero-emission and conventional long-haul trucks by 2030, implementing a national zero-emission freight corridor strategy, and supporting the transition to zero-emission vehicles through infrastructure development and industry partnerships.
The Rail Action Plan promotes affordable low- and zero-emission rail technologies. Major initiatives include creating a U.S. Rail Partnership for next-generation locomotive development, supporting rail-to-grid integration, conducting electrification feasibility studies and prioritizing deployment of zero-emission technologies in areas with the largest public health impacts. The plan also highlights rail’s role in efficient freight movement and expanded passenger service.
The Maritime Action Plan aims to reduce emissions from vessels through new technologies and sustainable fuels. The plan establishes a sustainable maritime grand challenge to accelerate deployment of competitive solutions, promotes transition to low-GHG fuels like green ammonia and methanol for ocean-going vessels and promotes international collaboration through groups like the International Maritime Organization. Key goals include producing 700 million heavy fuel oil gallon equivalent of sustainable maritime fuel annually by 2030.
The Off-Road Vehicle and Equipment Action Plan addresses an overlooked segment accounting for approximately 10% of transportation emissions through a strategy of maximizing battery equipment adoption, enabling hydrogen fuel cell and combustion technologies and improving efficiency where electrification is impractical. Off-road vehicles include construction equipment like bulldozers and cranes, agricultural machinery like tractors and harvesters, mining vehicles, forklifts, and recreational vehicles like ATVs and snowmobiles.
Photo by Tom Jackson
