Minnesotans would save up to $91 billion from climate-smart transportation

The document details the analytical approach used to estimate up to $91 billion in savings for Minnesota by comparing 'business-as-usual' transportation scenarios against targets for VMT reduction and net-zero emissions. It describes the monetization of avoided crash fatalities, air quality improvements, fuel and operating costs, and the social cost of carbon.

• RMI compared two Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) scenarios for Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) by 2050: a 'business-as-usual' case projecting 69.7 billion miles and a target scenario of 56.0 billion miles, representing a 20% per capita reduction.
• To monetize crash fatality and injury savings, the analysis assumes crashes decrease in proportion to VMT reduction, using fatality data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) for 2000-2009 and 2021 U.S. DOT guidance for the statistical value of life.
• Air quality fatality savings were calculated using the EPA’s COBRA tool, focusing on avoided all-cause mortality from PM2.5, NOx, and SO2, while assuming an ambitious electric vehicle (EV) adoption rate based on the 'Nationally Determined Contribution' (NDC) scenario.
• The analysis calculates the social cost of carbon (SCC) at $190 per metric ton of CO2, utilizing a 2% near-term Ramsey discount rate as legally adopted by the state of Minnesota in February 2023 via Senate File 4.
• Fuel and operating cost savings were estimated using 2020 dollars based on EIA and Kelly Blue Book data, assuming that registered private vehicles in Minnesota grow in proportion to the state's population growth through 2050.

APA

RMI (n.d.). Minnesotans would save up to $91 billion from climate-smart transportation. https://rmi.org/app/uploads/2023/04/minnesota-dot-methodology.pdf

Chicago

RMI. Minnesotans would save up to $91 billion from climate-smart transportation. n.d. https://rmi.org/app/uploads/2023/04/minnesota-dot-methodology.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=RMI |title=Minnesotans would save up to $91 billion from climate-smart transportation |url=https://rmi.org/app/uploads/2023/04/minnesota-dot-methodology.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rmindminnesotans, author = {{RMI}}, title = {{Minnesotans would save up to \$91 billion from climate-smart transportation}}, institution = {RMI}, url = {https://rmi.org/app/uploads/2023/04/minnesota-dot-methodology.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }