TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

Climate Change is real and must be addressed NOW. The actions and legislation we take today will impact future generations of humans, animals, and plants. We must begin to restore the balance of nature by moving past the "Dark Ages" of fossil fuels. We must "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" and "complete the policy development process within one year, after which each jurisdiction will decide whether to adopt and implement the policy.” Change is best made at the individual, local, and state levels because we cannot depend upon the federal government to take action. We are stewards of our Earth. And positive changes can be made!

This is an excellent and comprehensive bottom-up regional initiative, but it cannot supplant the necessary comprehensive and overarching national clean transportation policy and regulations. States must continue to press Congress and the Administration to recognize and address the acute and interlinked climate change, energy and transportation crisis. More emphasis is needed on a smooth transition to clean energy sources for transportation vehicles and to rebuilding decayed infrastructure, or developing and deploying new infrastructure, such as chargers for electric buses and cars.

This is absurd seeking a higher tax on gasoline and Diesel is going to stop people from driving is crazy mean is a very rural state loss of us depend on transportation for lots of things to get home from work to get to work to go out and buy groceries and things we need for day to day life all a higher tax is going to do is portmore strain and struggle on those who are already struggling and it might even be the tipping point for some people where they may have to give up driving because it becomes too expensive I would love Janet Mills for two weeks to live in a place as a very rural and watch her walk or ride a bike for transportation when the nearest grocery store is 25 miles one way. Adding extra taxes to gasoline and Diesel isn't going to make any difference for the people who can afford to drive there still going to drive but they're going to make sacrifices and other aspects of their life less vacation maybe they won't be able to take the road trip to visit friends and family or they won't be able to take a vacation or trip they desperately need for their mental health I'm 30 years old I work at a pizza place we offer delivery out on the road my drivers only get 5.50 per hour just like a waitress would what's going to happen to them when they can't afford to keep gas in your vehicle because the consumer can't afford to tip because we've had to raise prices to combat this tax every retail outfit any company that relies on trucks bringing their products to them will have to increase prices to make up for the difference in the taxes all of this already trickles down so people who are struggling to make ends meet as it is it doesn't matter how much the United States does to combat climate change will China's out there running rampid with no regulations or a care in the world to come back there impact on climate change they are the heaviest pouliting and country in existence. As a single parent working full-time I'm already struggling to make ends meet as it is I don't know what I'm going to do if this passes and I can't afford to get my son downstate for doctor's appointments he may need this isn't a problem for the people already on state help or receiving any kind of welfare because their costs get passed back onto me the regular average working man so now I have to struggle more and give up more just some more of my money can go to help somebody else that's probably capable of working but doesn't because Janet Mills allows a lot of leniency in slack when it comes to welfare in this state if you want to do something about climate change there's plenty that can be done without targeting the average working American we could be more efficient and what we do with our garbage there are alternative types of fuel that we could invest in do more research on that would help curb this problem hydrogen comes to mind what's only admits water as a by-product for running an automobile there is so much that could be done without charging the average person more money we've tired it on cigarettes and alcohol but no matter how much taxes increase or the prices raise people still buy them and that's not even necessarily something they need for everyday life while driving an automobile might a staple to their life and surviving their livelihood 10000 words simply isn't enough to stress how unnecessary and negatively this is going to impact characters is it enough to educate Janet Mills all alternatives and better solutions than a tax increase we've been raising prices ever since the monetary system has been created does that stop people from buying things no it doesn't it just makes them reprioritize and causes more problems look at the health industry the pharmaceutical industry there are people out there that can't afford the medicine they need to live and we're talkin about raising taxes on gas and Diesel maybe Janet Mills needs to get her priorities set straight because of a tax increase in gasoline and Diesel is more important then having residence homeless residents that can't afford their medicine that ignore going to the hospital because they can't afford it then she truly is lost and has no place being anywhere as a political figure

I support TCI because electric vehicles are better for the climate, our local environment, and our economy.

As a Boston commuter with asthma, I frequently must use medication to control my asthma brought on by air pollution walking to and from work. Reducing carbon pollution also reduces particulate and noxious gasses from transportation. I hope Massachusetts will join the plan to reduce transportation carbon emissions.

Please see attached for Agility Fuel Solutions' comments on the draft framework.

Please stop harming the ordinary citizens of Maine by mak8ng backroo deals that cost those of us in Maine that have to travel for healthcare, shopping, and errands. Our state is extremely rural and many of it's residents are elderly and/or disabled. We live on limited incomes and can not afford to pay more to stay in our homes, go to our healthcare appointments, get our food and medicines from our pharmacies, or even travelnto work. This is a bad deal for Maine.

Despite broad support for Vermont's stated climate goals, emissions in the state are rising, with almost 50% coming from transportation. The TCI Regional Policy Design is a significant step forward. We all need to support it.