TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

Climate change is the most critical problem facing the planet. All forms of transportation contribute to the problem. We must coalesce around solutions NOW.

Once again the people of Massachusetts are NOT being represented by the self serving idiots that unfortunately have been elected to do so. This is nothing more than another shakedown of the people of this state. The total disregard of the laws is absolutely amazing by the greedy unlawful and deceitful thieves we have representing us. You should be ashamed of yourselves. You are nothing more than pigs wallowing in the crap that you have made this state overflow with.

Electric vehicles, both private cars and public transport, will keep our air cleaner, and save money on fuel if the electricity for them is generated by solar and/or wind. The benefits outweigh any drawbacks and will pay for itself over time in fuel savings.

As a Philadelphia senior citizen, I receive a free transit card for Regional Rail, subways and buses. I am saddened and frustrated by the fact that, despite the excellent urban transit infrastructure, our transit system is not better resourced to communicate with the public, and that trains run so infrequently during non-peak hours and weekends.
Allocating more money to educate the public would increase both ridership and awareness of how mass transit users help decrease everyone's carbon emissions. Better apps to communicate real time arrival of buses, billboards at stations that announce when the next bus or train is expected would greatly minimize the stress of being a mass transit user.
We also need cheaper intercity trains. Adding cheap private buses has been a very popular move, but we need more trains to reduce highway congestion. All this, plus expanding public transit, takes dollars that need to be provided.

The climate change problem will never be solved without a premiere public transportation plan - which MA sorely lacks at this moment. In addition, within metro Boston more bike lanes need to be developed and protected from vehicular traffic. Our streets are too dangerous for bikers! The MBTA needs a major infusion of funds and overhaul. And we need more EV buses and local vans for short trips. Lyft and Uber aren't the solution. Data shows that they are adding to the traffic problem because more cars are driving around empty, waiting for rides. This is a serious crisis - but one that can be solved.

I would like to give comments regarding Maine’s involvement with the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI) as well as the three specific question areas of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

As a former Saco city councilor, current chair of the Saco Economic Development Commission, active board member of the Saco Main Street organization, Saco representative on the BSOOB Transit Committee and a small business owner with a degree in Engineering Technology, I believe I am well qualified to speak to this issue.

I commend Governor Mills and her attention to matters surrounding climate change and the potential harmful effects that rising CO2 levels have on the environment. However, I do not believe that CO2 alone, not to mention human or animal activity on CO2 levels are the most significant causes to climate change.

Please consider this amazing fact from Earth Sky, posted on May 22, 2019 titled: Magnetic North Is Shifting Fast...

“We already know that the magnetic pole moves. Both poles have wandered ever since the Earth existed. In fact, the poles even flip over, with north becoming south and south become in north.”

Also consider that the physical mechanism able to potentially explain the connection of Earth’s magnetic field to climate change is still an open issue.

From the Institute de Physique du Globe de Paris: “No forcing factor, be it changes in CO2 concentration in the atmosphere or changes in cosmic ray flux modulated by solar activity and geo magnetism, or possibly other factors , can at present be neglected or shown to be the overwhelming single driver of climate change in past centuries. Intensive data acquisition is required to further probe indications that the Earth’s and Sun’s magnetic fields may have significant bearing on climate change at certain time scales.” Source: Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Volume 253, ticket 3-4, p 328-339 (2007).

And this research article titled: New perspectives in the study of Earth’s magnetic field and climate connection, S.A. Campuzano, A. DeSantis, F.J. Paton Carrasco, M.L. Osete, E. Qamili (2018)...”There is a 90% confidence level that the magnetic field does impact the climate system including sea level rise.”

Now let me focus on the three questions in regard to the MOU.

Question 1: Setting starting levels and the trajectory for a regional cap on CO2 emissions from transportation fuels would be a variable construct that may prove unreliable if magnetic shifts are actually the larger issue at hand. Science must continue to focus attention on CO2 levels, but with a broader perspective. I believe a regional cap is difficult to target given the broader context. The question should be, “Given that current transportation fuels are a limited source, what research and innovation are being done now to find and implement alternatives to cleaner fuels and transportation needs?” This type of data and development is more concrete and effective. I know that research has been done on the harmful health effects that these fuels have on the population, but I cannot find the data to support these claims in the TCI, MOU or the National Energy Modeling System (NEMS) nor can I find relevant information for the claims made to support the TCI. I believe these documents have overly dramatized the concerns in an effort to push policies that will make our poorer populations even more destitute when they are taxed accordingly.

Question 2: If we reframe Question 1 to be as suggested, then Question 2 becomes irrelevant. However, goals could be set to help R&D methods and implementation. Communities in the region would possibly welcome the NEMS information when considering the changes to over all transportation needs. For instance, I know that our new electric buses in Biddeford, Saco and Old Orchard Beach will be a welcome addition, but it remains to be seen if the very cold temperatures that occur frequently in our region will allow them to run at all during below freezing temperatures. This would be a major inconvenience to those who rely on mass transit. Also, as we in Saco consider our work force needs and the higher density housing clusters in our urban core, what will be the impact of the transportation being desired? I can tell you that the BSOOB Transit Committee is just barely scratching the surface of this issue, and yet we envision some amazing progress that only our communities can come together to solve. What a shame it would be to tax everyone indiscriminately in an effort to pool funds that a much larger and more populated region and Maine would be competing for. Municipalities would still need to increase certain fees and costs locally to pay for any shortfall from a TCI “grant”.

Question 3: Stability mechanisms for emissions and pricing should not be considered given the context that CO2 levels are only one factor among many. Nothing remains stable for long and we are fools to believe even 50% in these projected models.

As Maine’s population ages, their income becomes less resistant to price increases. I saw first hand when I served as a city councilor how the elderly were the first people to complain when the property tax rate would increase. They cannot afford higher costs of living.

Let’s work on a system of information sharing instead, and learn about what other communities are implementing when local business, government and citizens take their vision of better communities into their own hands...Yes, we are doing it ALL THE TIME! AND IT IS WORKING.

The United States saw the largest decline in energy related CO2 emissions in 2019 on a country basis according to the International Energy Agency, down almost 1 Gt from their peak in the year 2000, the largest absolute decline by any country over that period.

Governor Mills and our state representatives must not enter into this TCI. It is a financial risk that our citizens cannot be allowed to bear.

This is outrageous, we pay enough in taxes! How sneaky to do this behind we the people's back. I voted for you Mr. Baker. Now I have regrets about casting a vote for you! I will be sharing this on Facebook, and various other social media sites. Shame on you all, try cutting your pay, and the rest of the corrupt politicians on Beacon Hill!

As an environmentalist and wildlife advocate, as well as a grandparent, I want a sustainable planet for all future generations. I believe we need
to design a regional low-carbon transportation policy proposal that would cap and reduce carbon emissions from the combustion of transportation fuels through a cap-and-invest program or other pricing mechanism .
The Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI) states are developing a regional policy for low-carbon transportation . Electric vehicles, bicycles and other low carbon emitting transportation are essential
Green house gases and carbon emissions are taking a toll on our planet. We need to do everything possible to reach zero emissions as soon as possible.