TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

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 without a doubt a regressive tax. Not only will poorer taxpayers bear the pain in the gas purchase, but every item purchased will also increase because of the added cost of transporting the item. The best way to fight environmental issues is to allow the free innovation of a free market. As long as there is a desire for change, there will be brilliant people finding the answers. The government should not be hurting the poorest taxpayers. Please don't do this!

Mainers cannot afford the Transportation Climate Initiative. Driving in Maine is different than in many states that have more options for public transportation, not that this initiative would be good for any state. This is a rural state, and driving is a necessity for jobs, school, etc. Additionally, most Mainers are already living paycheck to paycheck as the cost of living is much higher here. We cannot afford the tax increase this initiative would bring.

So, a group of well-meaning yet unelected people are pursuing a plan to impose new gas taxes on hard-working, tax paying citizens without following the legislative process. Ever heard of taxation without representation? It was kinda what inspired those who founded this great country and there are a lot of Northeastern citizens who will rally against your efforts. You people need to drop these crazy ideas that will certainly cripple our economy.

The Transportation Climate Initiative (TCI) proposal is a backdoor attempt to raise the gas tax that consumers will have to pay for at the pump. If you increase the gas tax literally every consumable item me and my family use will go up in price. We already have one of the highest costs of living in the country. Enough is enough! I say NO to TCI! Taxes are already too high in the Commonwealth-there is no need for more or higher taxes. Run things more efficiently instead of raising taxes!

I am in favor of Vermont's participation in the regional Transportation and Climate Initiative. It makes sense for Vermont to join other states in the region in developing policies to address carbon emissions from transportation fuels because those policies will impact Vermont even if it does not join the TCI: it might as well have a say in them before they take effect. Vermont needs to become clearer and more emphatic about meeting its goals for the reduction of its carbon emissions in general The public needs help in doing this: lots of education, of course, and policies which encourage and/or require taking actual steps towards lowering emissions numbers in different areas of our day-to-day life. The cap and invest approach to transportation fuels gives the public a chance to a) see that long-term steps to reduce emissions from transportation fuels can indeed be taken on a regional scale and b) engage in considering how to invest in our own communities-- always a profound opportunity! The conversations which will happen around investing monies from a cap-and-invest program will build our community as different types of people come together to consider what is important to them, worth investing in, in this state we all love so much.

We are in support of all efforts to reduce carbon emissions and feel that any action taken in that direction is a step towards collectively caring for our planet.

I support TCI as a way toward a stronger economy, equity for low-income and rural Vermonters, and a reduction in carbon pollution.