TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

We completely support the adoption of TCI. Maine would realize important health, economic, and environmental benefits by transitioning to cleaner and more efficient transportation options through adoption of TCI.

In a more rural environment, which is much of Maine, we should use TCI as an opportunity to invest in local transportation solutions that help Maine people. Having clean energy efficient transportation will get us where we need to go and attract others to Maine who are looking for a "healthy" environment to live in. Affordable and good for our environment, a win-win!
We are proud of out environmental record and highly value clean air! Now is the time to expand transportation in Maine which will attract companies to Maine that will provide good jobs. Companies also look for healthy living and leisure activities which Maine has.
We can do this together with the rest of New England states and make clean transportation available for Mainers. This is an important part of the future of transportation and Maine must be ready to take part.

I am concerned about the cost of this initiative and would like to know the expected cost increase to a gallon of gasoline

As a taxpayer, commuter and dedicated employee of a large organization in Massachusetts I employ you to NOT ENDORSE this carbon Tax being discussed at the Mass Legislative branch. We need INNOVATION not higher taxes on the working class!!

I am deeply opposed to Maine being part of this initiative. While I support reasonable steps to reduce our carbon footprint, this initiative is not reasonable. Maine is a relatively poor state, with an aging population, incomes below average and many people living paycheck to paycheck. Adding this tax to already high fuel prices will be burdensome on hardworking Maine families. Personally, it will add to my fuel costs to drive to work, add to our expenses at the grocery and other stores (the companies who deliver goods to stores cannot absorb this additional tax and the cost will trickle down at the market) and it will add significantly to my husband's costs. He is a self-employed truck driver; he will take the hit for the additional tax, which cuts into our profits, plus we will have the higher cost at the market and likely higher heating costs. We will seriously need to consider leaving Maine after 25 years living here if this goes through. PLEASE reconsider, as it looks like other states are reconsidering. Mainers simply cannot afford it!!

The only transportation of goods that come into the state of Maine is transported by trucks. Most of MAINE citizens do NOT have access to public transportation. How much more financial burden can the citizens of MAINE Handle. I disagree with this completely. As a 5th generation farm owner and supporting agricultural business in this state, farmers and businesses can NOT afford this! How will this encourage others to bring business and working families to MAINE?!

Raising taxes, primarily on the wealthy—and to a lesser extent on everyone—would be a small price to pay for reducing unimaginable threats to our environment, and to the lives of our grandchildren.

Transportation, in all its forms, produce toxins. It is imperative that we become PROGRESSIVE and RESPONSIBLE. We can be leaders on the national and world stages.

Thanks for making the effort to create a regional system that uses the market. (1) Strengthen your goals, if market changes is going to create a 19% drop in emissions then the CTI effort should be more robust than 20, 22, and 24% reduction goals. We can and MUST do better, a minimal increase in fuel price must result to drive behavior change and the current models/suggestions of $0.25 are not going to do it. (2) All fossil fuels for transportation should be taxed, including liquified natural gas, this is a climate initiative after all and switching from petroleum to gas does not improve the climate. (3) Assess ethanol as well. Nothing about ethanol is sustainable as it is derived from corn which is a fossil fuel intensive crop. (4) Invest heavily in electrification and increased access of mass transit - that to be effective must also dissuade people from using cars and increase density of our living situations. Thanks, Sue Hughes-Smith Adjunct Professor of Environmental Health at SUNY Brockport and Environmental Studies at R.I.T.