Issue: Transportation

Gas prices are dominating Americans’ thinking, and people are more likely to blame our dependence on oil and price gouging by corporations than climate policies. 90% of Americans are very or fairly concerned about gasoline prices, compared to the Russian invasion of Ukraine (88%), cost of healthcare (84%), America’s dependence on oil (84%), climate change and impact of extreme weather events (64%), and COVID-19 (58%). 61% of Americans blame U.S. dependence on oil for gas price increases, compared to “price gouging and excessive profits for oil companies” (60%), decisions by oil producers in the United States and overseas to limit production (60%), Russia invading Ukraine (59%), the cancellation of some U.S. oil pipeline construction projects (54%), and environmental policies that limit oil drilling on public lands and offshore (46%). Predictably, Republicans are more likely to blame environmental policies, Democrats are more likely to blame oil dependence and fossil fuel companies’ price gouging—and swing voters are more likely to agree with Democrats. Majorities of voters favor lots of policies that could mitigate gas price increases, including cracking down on price gouging, banning some oil exports, windfall profits tax on fossil fuel companies, and more. This poll’s authors argue for being explicit about the causes of gas price increase—dependence on oil and fossil fuel companies profiting off this war—when messaging about gas prices and climate policy.

This report offers a series of “climate jobs” recommendations for Maine. These recommendations that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollution at scale, create thousands of high-quality jobs, and build more resilient, equitable communities in Maine. Regarding transportation, install 25,000 public EV charging stations by 2030; transition 50% of Maine’s school bus fleet to zero-emission electric vehicles by 2025 and 100% by 2030; double and electrify city bus operations by 2030; and construct high-speed rail to Bangor, Maine. Regarding carbon-free healthy schools, retrofit and install solar on all k-12 public schools by 2035. Regarding buildings, net-zero emissions for new construction by 2030; retrofit 50% of residential units by 2040; and build 19,000 affordable units by 2040. Regarding energy, provide 100% renewable electricity by 2035. Regarding labor, ensure high-quality, union jobs in Maine. all of this will ensure a just transition for Maine.