TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

“…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]… to complete the policy development process within one year, after which each jurisdiction will decide whether to adopt and implement the policy.”

I staunchly against any initiative for the state of Maine that will increase taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel, we pay one of the highest taxes in the nation already well I care about the planet use the money you already have stop charging us more. Thank you for your consideration and please do not charge us the taxpayers any more money we already pay too much as it is.

I recommend that Vermont join the Transportation Climate Initiative (TCI) that is being developed for states in this northeast region of our country.

We now know that climate emissions in Vermont have been increasing in the last two or three years despite a clear legislative and policy commitment to reduce these emissions. We also know that climate emissions from transportation account for the largest share of recent climate emission increases. We also know that transportation is an activity that may be addressed most effectively on multi-state, regional basis. And we have seen that the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative has proven to be an effective tool for reducing climate emissions from electricity generation.

I am a member of a church in South Burlington that sees the climate crisis as a moral crisis for all mankind and that we all have a responsibility to do what we can to reduce climate emissions. We have been at work for several years to walk our talk by reducing the climate emissions we contribute. Our church has with its own resources taken steps which, with help from Efficiency Vermont and Vermont Gas, enables us to reduce our carbon emissions associated with natural gas and electricity use by more than 50 percent. We want to address climate emissions from driving our personal vehicles but this requires support, just as Efficiency Vermont and Vermont Gas helped us with improving the energy performance of our church building and our individual home.

The TCI offers Vermont a potential source of revenues to support steps to reduce transportation emissions and to do so in way that will help most the people least able to afford newer, more fuel efficient, lower emission cars and trucks.

I ask that Vermont join in the emerging new TCI and to endorse actions by the TCI program that will help all Vermonters to reduce climate emissions resulting from our transportation activities.

It is now obvious that climate change is happening and causing very big impacts that include significant increases in annual rainfall in Vermont, warmer winters in Vermont which threaten the future of skiing in Vermont, accelerate the incidence of lime disease, and threaten the long term viability of our maple syrup industry. These impacts are the obvious ones that confront us in easy to observe ways. Scientists tell us that the Vermont forests, lakes, and wildlife communities are all being transformed by these changes in very negative ways.

It is also important to recognize that the TCI program can make big positive contributions to the State's economy. This has happened with energy efficiency activity, which is now a big Vermont employer, and the solar industry, which had until recently been a fast growing business in Vermont that provided jobs and produced income for Vermonters across the State. The Vermont Clean Energy Development Fund finances annual economic assessments of the clean energy sector and has with these annual studies has documented the large direct employment and income benefits of these clean energy businesses. The TCI can and should be harnessed to build upon this progress.

I urge that Vermont sign the TCI memorandum of understanding and commit the policy and program leadership needed to build an effective program. Such new programs require hard work to make them work and to avoid pitfalls. I plead for the Governor and the Legislature to do the hard work of negotiating an effective TCI program that will benefit Vermont and serve Vermont's stated commitment to achieving the Paris Climate Goals, which will benefit all mankind.

Thank you for this opportunity to comment.

Sam Swanson

I care about clean air, yes. I walk my dog & run for exercise: clean air is essential for these activities. I also hate to drive and therefore support any endeavor that would strengthen regional public transit. There have been so many times when we wish we could take the greener (and easier option) of taking the train into Boston from the suburbs or from MA to Maine, but the schedules/access are too limited and/or too slow.

I am totally against the TCI initiative. This is a cowardly step to try and bypass the responsibility of lawmakers to write tax law as well as push a climate agenda that reasonably minded people still have serious disagreements about. In 2014 MA residents resoundingly rejected another brazen and cowardly attempt to index gas tax increase to inflation rather than making lawmakers vote on it. TCI is worse as legislators don't even weigh on it. One of the proverbial "straws that broke the camel's back" to form this once great nation was taxation without representation. TCI is that in spades and I advise MA government officials not to join this initiative.

I find it outrageous that the Commonwealth is pursuing this initiative without a vote of the people. The taxpayers overwhelmingly rejected the Legislatures brazen and cowardly attempt to index gas tax increases to inflation in 2014. Trying to hide the same initiative in the TCI based on unsettled science is the epitome of taxation without representation, one of the founding tenets of this country. This is a completely irresponsible piece of legislation.

It is past time for us to seriously deal with climate change and not deny it because of money. We must take responsibility and find ways to redirect our energy systems to clean technologies. Transportation is a major cause of greenhouse gases and we need to combat this with clean energy buses, trains and even planes.
What are we leaving to our children and grandchildren? They should be thankful for what we have accomplished not curse us for the mess we have left them.

We, as a government, a country, and a citizenry need to be doing everything we can to reduce climate change. Please support the Transportation and Climate Initiative as one way to do so.

I live in Hallowell, ME. I care about this because air quality is vital to our health. I support Governor Mills for participating in the regional design process. I hope that the policy design reflects the best and latest available science on climate emissions from transportation and will tough on pollution. I request that the policy have a strong component of equity that ensures that low-income, rural, or aging populations are not hurt by this program -- after all an old jalopy is all some people can afford. I think that it is wonderful that this is a bipartisan project. I would love to see increased access to clean public transit in my community. Especially with winter setting upon us, I think it is important to recognize the double impact of diminished air quality from low cloud layers and increased exhaust from individual vehicles. Incentives like rebates for purchasing electric or hybrid vehicles could go a long way to making a better world for ourselves, our children, and grandchildren.