A new National Research Council report finds that
by the year 2050, the U.S. may be able to
reduce petroleum consumption and
greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent for light - duty vehicles — cars and small trucks —
via a combination of more efficient vehicles; the use of alternative fuels like biofuels, electricity, and hydrogen; and strong government policies to overcome high costs and influence consumer choices.
MIT's
greenhouse gas emissions have been
reduced by 9 percent from 2016 levels, primarily due to electricity produced
via a solar power purchase agreement last year with a solar farm in North Carolina, and
by 16 percent from the 2014 baseline year — half of the minimum reduction called for.