TEXAS TRANSPORTATION ENERGY SAVINGS STRATEGIES FOR REDUCING ENERGY CONSUMPTION

The report analyzes the energy-intensive nature of the Texas transportation system, which is heavily dependent on petroleum. Using the LEAP/EDB model, it compares a Reference Scenario (status quo) against four alternatives: Rollback, Moderate, Aggressive, and Visionary. The findings indicate that while the Reference Scenario projects a 44.2% increase in energy use by 2020, the Visionary Scenario could reduce energy consumption to levels below 1994 totals. The study emphasizes that aggressive pricing and technological shifts are necessary to achieve significant energy savings and air quality improvements.

• Texas is the largest energy consumer in the United States, with consumption levels 40% higher than California's.
• Under the Reference Scenario, Texas transportation energy consumption is projected to grow from 2,044 trillion BTU in 1994 to 2,948 trillion BTU by 2020, representing a 44.2% increase.
• The Rollback Scenario, which simulates the reversal of current alternative fuels programs, would result in a 1.4% increase in overall transportation energy use by 2020 compared to the Reference Scenario.
• The Moderate Scenario, utilizing feebates, accelerated vehicle retirement, and employer trip reduction, is projected to reduce transportation energy use by 5.5% relative to the Reference Scenario by 2020.
• The Aggressive Scenario, centered on congestion and road pricing, would lead to a 20.1% reduction in energy use by 2020 relative to the Reference case.
• The Visionary Scenario, incorporating land use changes, teletravel, and full-cost pricing, could reduce 2020 energy consumption to 1,960 trillion BTU, which is lower than 1994 levels.
• Petroleum-based fuels dominate the Texas transportation sector, providing approximately 92.9% of energy needs in the 2020 Reference Scenario.
• The Visionary Scenario offers the most significant potential for air quality improvement, with 2020 CO2 emissions 36.0% lower than the Reference Scenario.
• Approximately 40% of all passenger miles of travel (PMT) in Texas occur within large urban areas (populations over 200,000), suggesting these areas are the most cost-effective targets for transportation control measures.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (1995). TEXAS TRANSPORTATION ENERGY SAVINGS STRATEGIES FOR REDUCING ENERGY CONSUMPTION. https://leap.sei.org/documents/texshort.pdf

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. TEXAS TRANSPORTATION ENERGY SAVINGS STRATEGIES FOR REDUCING ENERGY CONSUMPTION. 1995. https://leap.sei.org/documents/texshort.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=TEXAS TRANSPORTATION ENERGY SAVINGS STRATEGIES FOR REDUCING ENERGY CONSUMPTION |date=1995 |url=https://leap.sei.org/documents/texshort.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute1995texas, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{TEXAS TRANSPORTATION ENERGY SAVINGS STRATEGIES FOR REDUCING ENERGY CONSUMPTION}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {1995}, url = {https://leap.sei.org/documents/texshort.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }