View Public Input on TCI-P

I am opposed to Virginia joining the TCI (Transportation Climate Initiative) for a number of reasons:
1) The technology for developing alternative, carbon-neutral energy sources has not reached a point where it is affordable, available and environmentally safe, and with regard to certain “sustainable” energy systems, will enrich the coffers of the CCP where at least 80% of solar panels are manufactured;
2) We have not learned the lesson of decimating the coal industry without having suitable energy source replacements or job training for conversion;
3) Virginia is attempting to restore its economic footing and presumably regain its ranking as one of the best states in which to do business – to attract new or transferring industry;
4) This will contribute significantly to inflation as the costs of everything that requires delivery will escalate dramatically, particularly what is delivered by the trucking industry;
5) This includes new or re-hab housing costs, which are already suffering from distribution delays;
6) This will affect the affordability of food – and hence will have dramatic effects on the nutrition and health of the American public, particularly those at the lower end of the economic spectrum (see in particular fruits and vegetables);
7) The disadvantage to rural citizens is immense – access to health care – even with telemedicine since broadband is certainly less available – access to employment, and access to life in general will be disproportionately affected;
8) The resultant increase in gas at the pump will disproportionately affect senior citizens – who suffer from more than enough isolation as it is – because they are on fixed incomes and not at an age where they can find or qualify for employment – and rural seniors are often in areas with minimal transportation alternatives as it is;
9) It will have the greatest impact on small businesses that can ill afford the related costs this entails and will throw a major wet blanket over entrepreneurial endeavors;
10) It will, I have no doubt, increase unemployment in Virginia – and the Commonwealth seems to be having a “slight” problem handling the unemployment claims we currently have.
I sincerely hope this is rejected – or at least tabled until technology actually makes it remotely feasible.
Kim Smith, Madison

How will you account for retail stations that could bring in fuel to the TCI jurisdictions from non-TCI jurisdictions via rail or truck? Is there a true up of amounts capped and amounts delivered to gas stations in the TCI jurisdictions?
Gas stations can sell fuel for off-road use for instance to use in farming. How will those deductions be accounted for as the fuel supplier/distributor may not be aware of these deductions?
Is there a fine, penalty or fee associated with a supplier using more allowances than they hold? What happens if demand outnumbers the capped amount? Is it possible for jurisdictions to trade capped amounts in a situation where MA needs has reached its cap and still has demand but RI has a way to go before it reaches their cap. Could RI reallocate allowances to MA?
Will every state use the same allowance (EATS) system?
It seems that the allowances could be traded or sold similar to RINS in biodiesel space. Is that an accurate assumption? If so this creates a another market for fuel suppliers to make profits, is there a means that the states benefit from such market (such as income tax)?
Has this information been sent to fuel suppliers and terminal operators in the TCI jurisdictions for feedback?

I think this is a very thorough and well thought out plan. Great job!!

The Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition supports a strong TCI-P Model Rule that (1) ensures meaningful climate action to address Virginia's largest driver of our climate crisis, (2) directs significant investments to correcting historic inequities in overburdened and underserved communities; and (3) affords Virginia the opportunity for a cleaner, healthier transportation system.

We call for the TCI-P Model Rule to include (1) a minimum investment amount to ensure overburdened and underserved communities in Virginia receive a greater-then-proportional share of investments from the program, (2) integration of air quality commitments across Virginia, and (3) robust empowerment of Virginia's Equity Advisory Body.

I support a strong TCI-P Model Rule that (1) ensures meaningful climate action to address Virginia's largest driver of our climate crisis, (2) directs significant investments to correcting historic inequities in overburdened and underserved communities; and (3) affords Virginia the opportunity for a cleaner, healthier transportation system.

transportation is the biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Virginia and the region, as well as dangerous particulates that cause health problems like asthma.
• particulate emissions especially impact those near major roads, which often include lower-income and minority communities.
• to solve these problems we need to move to a clean transportation system, and a clean-energy economy.
• TCI-P will greatly help Virginia and the region do this – it will improve air quality, lower health care costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and generate revenue for other environmental initiatives to further accelerate our progress.

I call for the TCI-P Model Rule to include (1) a minimum investment amount to ensure overburdened and under served communities in Virginia receive a greater-then-proportional share of investments from the program, (2) integration of air quality commitments across Virginia, and (3) robust empowerment of Virginia's Equity Advisory Body."

I strongly support the TCI-P Model Rule as an essential next step on the road to decarbonization.
A 2018 report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) confirms that meeting the Paris Agreement's 1.5-degree target will require cutting GHG emissions roughly in half by 2030, and achieving net zero emissions by 2050. Achieving these reductions will be challenging. A recent forecast from the United Nations' World Meteorological Organization finds "a 20% chance that global temperatures will be 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) higher than the pre-industrial average in at least one year between 2020 and 2024."
We simply no longer have the luxury of time. I respectfully encourage adoption of the TCI-P Model Rule now to ensure durable, sustained, and necessary reductions in GHG pollution. Thank you.

Vermont's participation in TCI-P is one of our best avenues for reducing transportation emissions. It offers us a unique opportunity, and there's plenty of leeway to target how TCI-P revenue is spent and address equity issues. But we can't make those policy choices if we don't join TCI-P, so let's sign on.

Please, let’s see Vermont join the other states in the TCI-P. It makes so much sense for our environment AND our people.