Baoding City Listed as One of the First Low-carbon Traffic Pilot Cities

LED lights are installed along the expressway; solar energy and wind power are the first to be used in the expressway service area; and low-carbon asphalt paving technology is widely promoted in highway construction. Recently, the reporter learned from the provincial transportation department that Baoding, as the country’s first low-carbon pilot city (10 in total) and the only pilot city in the north, will lead the province in the next five years and strive to build a comprehensive low-carbon transport system.

Its main contents include: The use of 264.44 tons of waste tire modified bitumen per kilometer in the construction of 643 kilometers of expressways, which can cumulatively reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 59,513 tons; will be fully promoted in the construction of expressways from 2011 to 2013 Warm asphalt low-carbon paving technology can save 255 tons of fuel and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 773.11 tons. The greening of the highway will actively implement the multi-layer planting of trees and shrubs, construct a highway green corridor, and use the carbon-absorbing function of vegetation to achieve indirect carbon reduction. By 2013, 100,000 drought-tolerant and cold-resistant arbors, 2 million flowers and shrubs, and 180 tons of carbon dioxide will be absorbed each day along the city's main highways.

Lighting power has always been the focus of energy conservation in highway operations. At the end of 2009, Baoding has implemented a LED lighting reconstruction project in the expressway service area under its jurisdiction to convert all lighting equipment into energy-saving light sources. In the next five years, the city will also install 72,721 LED lamps in the relevant areas along the expressway, which will save energy by 82.815 million degrees a year. At the same time, it will also select 2-3 expressway service areas, and it will take the lead in starting the low-carbon construction project for self-sufficient solar energy and wind energy in the service area.

In urban public transport, by 2013, Baoding will build 19 new compressed natural gas filling stations (including 2 main stations) in the main urban area, basically meeting the gas demand of urban public transport vehicles. Before 2015, more than 1,000 natural gas passenger vehicles will be purchased and put into operation. Public transport vehicles in the urban areas will be fully replaced with gas (natural gas), and the pilot construction of electricity and oil will be steadily advanced.

In addition, by 2013, all taxis in Baoding City will use clean energy.

According to reports, in building a low-carbon transportation system, Baoding will also fully establish a modern logistics service system with reasonable layout, advanced technology, energy conservation, environmental protection, convenience, efficiency, safety, and order, and will focus on promoting warehousing and transportation logistics centers in waterless ports. Anguo Kyushu Pass modern Chinese herbal medicine logistic base, Baigou Xinyuan logistic center, Xiongxian Longhua warehousing logistic and third party logistics project construction; Establish city's transportation carbon emission statistics, assessment, evaluation system, and establish a comprehensive transportation basic database.

It is reported that in addition to Baoding, the Ministry of Transport has also confirmed nine cities in Tianjin, Chongqing, Shenzhen, Xiamen, Hangzhou, Nanchang, Guiyang, Wuhan, and Wuxi to carry out pilot projects for the construction of low-carbon transportation systems.