TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

Additionally, call it what you want, but this is another TAX your trying to ram through, not a fee! I'll be voting out all who are for this FEE and will be encouraging everyone I know to vote you all OUT!!

The Northeast region needs to set an overall limit on pollution from transportation through a regional “cap-and-invest” program, similar to the program the region implemented for electricity-related emissions. This program would begin to hold oil companies accountable for their emissions and provide funding for clean mobility for Northeast residents.

This is no longer a luxury — we need to enact bold change.

It is through actions like these that we in the Northeast can show the whole country that we can lead again. We can create a better, cleaner transportation system for Northeast residents through investments in public transportation and new technologies such as electric vehicles.

I am writing to express strong support for the Transportation and Climate Initiative and to urge the adoption of the strongest possible cap on transportation carbon emissions. The climate crisis demands that we take swift, strong action to decarbonize our economy, and with transportation now the number one source of greenhouse gases in the region and around the United States, we need to begin now. I further urge the adoption of a cap with the utmost of integrity. Cost-containment measures should not result in an increase in the overall emissions cap and the use of offsets should be strictly limited to ensure that the program achieves its main mission of promoting cleaner transportation in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Finally, allowance revenue generated under TCI should be reinvested so as to accelerate the transition to a cleaner transportation system. States should not be permitted to use allowance revenues to fill gaps in road spending or to facilitate highway construction.

With sea level rise, increases in extreme precipitation and other impacts of climate change already beginning to appear in our region, we have the opportunity to lead and provide other regions with a shining example of leadership. By adopting a strong regional cap with integrity, and investing revenue from the program into clean transportation services and technologies, the TCI states can demonstrate to the rest of the country and the rest of the world that decarbonizing the transportation sector is possible.

Please cease and desist with your crippling the best country on the planet with completely unnecessary restrictions. If you want to help the environment, stop lying about it and press China and India and the other worse offenders. Climate change is natural and not man made. The real intent is too hobble and weaken the USA because we are the sword and shield of liberty and freedom. This paved the way for a global totalitarian power, which will subjugate and enslave free thinking individuals. Gulags, death camps, and indoctrination centers await.

Northeastern states worked successfully together to tackle power plant pollution through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), which is supporting energy efficiency and weatherization investments through Efficiency Maine that lower energy costs and pollution. Transportation is our biggest source of carbon pollution and contributes significantly to climate change. Transportation contributes to serious health issues like asthma which starts in childhood and has economic consequences throughout life. I support the collaboration afforded by this TCI initiative!

Climate change is going to do horrible damage worldwide and providing sustainable transportation options is a critical piece of the picture. I fully support the policies put forth under this initiative. We need more solar electric based mass transit. Living in Europe 40 years ago was such a pleasant experience, traveling locally and across borders by train and rail. The US is so far behind in this. It's way past time to raise gas taxes and tolls on private vehicles and use the money to subsidize rail travel along major freeways as well as all the other great, innovative ideas out there. It's too bad that this may "inconvenience" some private car owners but it will benefit if not outright save this society. Let's see some courage out of the Governors of New England states!

Mainers cannot afford more fuel taxes. I see people on a daily basis struggling to provide basic needs to their families. These sorts of taxes are making survival in this state even harder; impossible for some. Being the oldest demographic in the country leads one to recognize that most folks are not in their prime and cannot make adjustments such as additional jobs to meet the bills. We need to take care of our citizens. The End.

I am completely uncomfortable with the use of the TCI to make political, social, economic decisions and changes without allowing the public to vote either directly via ballot or even via elected officials. This initiative feels very much like a back-door and sneaky/disingenuous way to place gas/fuel taxes on vendors/businesses and through them to the citizens of the region. I disagree completely with this approach.
If you want to advocate for ideas, great. But the people and their elected officials by law have the sole ability to create TAX’s!

I am an ecologist, educator, father, and concerned citizen of Durham. I would like to make sure that NC is in a strong position to mitigate damages of climate change to the environment and the people who live here. Thus, I would urge you to include a cap on carbon emissions of at least 25% by 2032. Please also increase the minimum investment in overburdened and underserved communities to much more than 35%.
Please put investments towards active transportation like better sidewalks, bicycle infrastructure, and high quality public transit. Thank you!