Texas, California and Pennsylvania Top List of with Most Transportation Pollution

A new report has identified the the top 10 biggest transportation polluting states, with Texas, California and Pennsylvania heading the list.

The other seven are: Illinois, Ohio, Florida, New Jersey, Georgia, Virginia and North Carolina.

Conversely, the top 10 least transportation polluting states are: Vermont, Rhode Island, Delaware, South Dakota, New Hampshire, Wyoming, Montana, Maine, Idaho and North Dakota.

The finding come courtesy of the Natural Resources Defense Council, which says its research  shows that “Americans of all political views overwhelmingly endorse two Obama Administration initiatives to put the brakes on that climate pollutant. The administration is pushing for cleaner cars that use less fuel and clean transportation planning, which could usher in safe bikeways, pedestrian walkways and public transit.”

NRDC also released data ranking the states by their carbon pollution from transportation which would be affected by the national clean transportation goals.

Of the top 20 worst polluters, seven states California, Florida, New Jersey, Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia generate more than 40 percent of their carbon pollution from transportation; on a national average, transportation accounts for about one-third of carbon pollution.

NRDCs poll finds that 95 percent of Americans want automakers to keep improving fuel economy for cars and trucks, including 97 percent of Democrats, 94 percent of Independents, and 93 percent of Republicans. And 79 percent want the government to keep increasing fuel efficiency standards.

Also, the U.S. Department of Transportation has indicated it may issue standards this year requiring transportation planning agencies to start identifying, and then find ways to reduce, the climate and carbon pollution from projects in their transportation plans.

NRDCs poll finds that 78 percent of Americans agree that state transportation agencies should take vehicle-related carbon pollution and climate change into account when developing transportation plans, and also seek ways to reduce that pollution. This view is held by 92 percent of Democrats, 79 percent of Independents, and nearly two out of three (64 percent) of Republicans.

The group’s poll shows Americans have just two words to say about clean transportation: “Floor it.” Americans want cleaner cars, and better planning that green-lights transportation options that saves money, reduces the use of oil and improves our air, health and quality of life, said Pete Altman, director of Federal Campaigns at NRDC.

In 2012, Obama issued landmark standards for 54.5 miles-per-gallon by 2025. Recently, three federal agencies recently issued an interim report concluding that automakers are on track to meet that goal.

Currently, the roughly 400 state and municipal transportation agencies across the country that receive federal transportation funds are required to identify transportation needs, address issues like safety, and set priorities for transportation projects and budgets.

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