Charles Komanoff
Recent Posts
Opinion: Alternatives to California’s Pro-Car Giveaway
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Of the myriad motorist giveaways now being rushed into place around the U.S., none sting like California’s.
The specifics of the so-called relief plan are still being worked on. But the basic shape is expected to hew to the contours posted by Newsom’s office this past week and shown further below: $9 billion in payments to households of $400 per registered car (limit of two per family) and just $2 billion to make transit cheaper
... But Our Expert Doesn't Believe It
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Only a stiff congestion price can meaningfully cut traffic congestion. And only organizing can get us better transit and safe bicycling networks.
The Forgotten Other Good Reason for Repealing Seattle’s Bike-Helmet Law
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Helmet laws discourage cycling, which undermines public health.
Lithium Mining: The Hidden Environmental Cost of EVs
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The Green New Deal is clearly better than our carbon-based catastrophic course. But it also depends on massive amounts of lithium — and extracting it will carry a big environmental cost of its own.
KOMANOFF: Beware the EV Congestion Boomerang
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So, policymakers, be careful what you wish for when EVs are concerned: If congestion increases because of an exemption for electric vehicles, a primary benefit of congestion pricing disappears.
U.S. Must Reverse the Charges on Diesel Tampering
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If New York State were as diligent as California at preventing emissions tampering by owners of diesel pickup trucks, the resulting health gains could exceed $120 million.
How to Stop Emissions Tampering
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Combustion vehicles invite law-breaking. Petro-masculinity is deep-seated in American culture. But California, at least, has vanquished emissions tampering. These are the takeaways from last week's report of super-spreader pickup trucks.
Downturn in U.S. Driving Led to Global CO2 Decline
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U.S. cars and trucks, the source of 5 percent of world carbon emissions, have accounted for a whopping 20 percent of this year’s global dip in carbon pollution. Can we keep that going?
Why Restaurant Patio Heaters Might Be a Net Gain for the Climate
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We asked our columnist — the nation's leading expert on carbon emissions — whether winter heat lamps will destroy or save our city. He came down on the latter.
NY Times Starts Embracing ‘Future without Cars’
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Times opinion writer Farhad Manjoo did more than just illustrate a vision for a car-free city that many of us have been championing, he did so in a way that clearly put the topic on the map for readers of the Gray Lady.
Coronavirus Will Go Away. Congestion Pricing Must Not
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All four bedrock conditions that justified congestion pricing in the first place will almost certainly remain — yes, even after COVID-19.
Tax Carbon to Hurt Saudis for Killing Khashoggi
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This story was originally published by the Carbon Tax Center. It is reprinted here with permission. It’s often said that a carbon tax is first and foremost a tax on coal. I’ve probably said it myself, and David Roberts wrote as much the other day in his useful post for Vox, “The 5 most important questions […]