PORTLAND,
Maine --Residents of Portland's "exurbs" -- the fast-growing towns on
the outer fringes of the metropolitan area -- have long commutes that
produce a disproportionately high share of Maine's pollution linked to
global warming, according to a census-based study released Thursday.
By
contrast, people living in large cities such as Portland, Lewiston and
Bangor live closer to their jobs and thus produce lower per capita
levels of carbon dioxide pollution.
"The
farther from work you live, the more you contribute to global warming,"
said Matthew Davis of Environment Maine Research and Policy Center.
The
report, coauthored by the Environment Maine and the Natural Resources
Council of Maine, was released at an outdoor news conference on a
midwinter day that saw temperatures hover around 50 degrees.
While
many around town savored the shirtsleeve weather, environmental
advocates blamed global warming for extreme temperature changes and
cautioned that high pollution levels threaten industries such as skiing
and maple syrup production.
The
town-by-town study was billed as the first in which census figures on
commuting patterns were used to measure contributions to global warming
pollution.
To
no one's surprise, fast-growing towns such as Waterboro, Limington and
Naples located just beyond the Portland suburbs ranked high on the list.
The
study found that the average commuter in those towns travels 17 to 19
miles to work and produces more than 7,000 pounds of carbon dioxide
pollution per year; the comparable figures for Bangor, Portland and
South Portland were four to six miles and less than 2,500 pounds.
The commute to work statewide averages nine miles.
The
report produced some surprises, according to its authors, who applauded
the finding that 24 percent of residents of Orono residents do not rely
on a car to get to work. "That's just outstanding," Davis said.
Less
positively, Jennifer Anderson of the Natural Resources Council lamented
that only 3 percent of Portland residents rely on public transportation
to get to work, despite the availability of an extensive bus system.
Speakers
said the study pointed out the need to develop new transportation
options and pursue policies that discourage sprawl that places people
farther from their jobs.
Maintaining
that Maine's commuting habits were not sustainable, Steve Linnell of
the Greater Portland Council of Governments urged motorists to drive
less, join car pools and look to alternatives such as buses, bicycling
or walking.
Carey
Kish of Go Maine, a state-funded program that matches car and van pool
riders, said 3,000 commuters and hundreds of employers have already
signed up.
"It's an immediate solution -- low-cost and easy to do," he said. "You can't ask for anything better that we can do right now."
