Rubin

Road Salt in Maine: An Assessment of Practices, Impacts and Safety

The Road Salt in Maine: An Assessment of Practices, Impacts and Safety report presents the results from a research project by a team from the University of Maine, in cooperation with the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT), that examines the use of road salt in Maine for winter travel safety. It summarizes winter maintenance practices, […]

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Credit Enhancement Strategies for Higher Efficiency Vehicles in Maine

Erin Brown, Jonathan Rubin, and Bruce Wyatt published a new report entitled “Credit Enhancement Strategies for Higher Efficiency Vehicles in Maine” which reviews two credit enhancements mechanisms and their impact on access to clean, reliable vehicles. Enhancements are necessary because lower-income and historically disadvantaged groups have less access to low-cost financing. They are not sufficient […]

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Rural Public Transportation in Maine–New Report

Great Need for Public Transportation in Rural Areas Access to critical services, such as jobs, education, healthcare, and shopping, is essential for the livability of any community. For those living in rural communities, these services are often farther away, requiring access to a vehicle or public transit. In Maine, the oldest and most rural state, […]

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New Report on High Fuel Efficiency Vehicles

High Fuel Efficiency Vehicles Can Bolster Maine’s Economy Recent data shows that 54% of Maine’s CO2 emissions come from transportation. A new report by Jonathan Rubin, Kathryn Ballingall, and Erin Brown of the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center notes that Maine’s economy can benefit from reducing transportation-related petroleum demand and emissions. This economic benefit can […]

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Rubin co-authors report guiding U.S. toward carbon-neutral economy

The director of the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center co-authored a strategic plan to guide the U.S. toward a carbon-neutral economy by 2050 as a member of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN USA). University of Maine economist Jonathan Rubin and other members of SDSN USA, which was launched to implement the United Nations’ sustainable […]

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Director Rubin presenting at the Smart Prosperity Institute in Ottawa

Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center director, Jonathan Rubin, is presenting at the Smart Prosperity Institute at the University of Ottawa. The Smart Prosperity Institute is hosting the annual symposium of Greening Growth Partnerships & Economic and Environmental Policy Research Network where Rubin is highlighting his research titled “Reducing GHG Emissions in Transport: State Best Practices […]

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MCSPC director featured on WGME CBS 13

Center director Jonathan Rubin was interviewed on WGME CBS 13 for a feature titled ‘Can we get away with a little less?’ Road salt harming environment, infrastructure. The Maine DOT uses 16 tons of rock salt to keep 8,300 lane miles safe for traveling. This salt use comes not only a great economic cost to […]

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