TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

Governor Scott should join the Transportation and Climate Initiative. Vermonters will end up paying whether or not we join the program, and there's a good chance if the state does join that we will end up receiving back more for investment than we put into it. The governor could use the proceeds from it to help low income Vermonters. We're in the midst of a climate emergency. We need to do everything we can to reduce carbon pollution, and the TCI will lead to a 25% reduction in transportation emissions by 2032 - not enough but certainly a step in the right direction.

Cockerham Energy, a third-generation family business which currently employs approximately 115 people and has employed hundreds of others throughout its 70+ years serving Southwest Virginia, is strongly opposed to the "framework for a draft regional policy proposal" which seeks to expropriate the fossil fuel industry. Over time this plan proposes to move Virginia from simple rationing and new taxes to the ultimate prohibition of fossil fuels.

• This plan does not assess the collateral damage it will inflict on state revenue, local tax collections, Virginia's Transportation Trust fund, small business and consumers.

• Many of the advocates of these policies support regulation to electrify transportation. Those advocates somehow forget to mention that a major component of batteries powering these vehicles is cobalt, 90 percent of which is mined in third world countries under unfavorable working conditions.

• As the number of electric vehicles grows, petroleum marketers will likely have to battle for a share of the electric vehicle charging market with utility companies that see EV charging as a new business opportunity without cost. When utility companies install charging stations, they may seek the ability to include that cost as part of their capital investment. When these costs are approved by governmental regulatory agencies, they can then be passed on to all ratepayers as part of their monthly electric bills.

• Cockerham Energy believes this would provide regulated utilities an unfair competitive advantage that Virginia based small businesses simply cannot compete with. Our company must economically justify and self-fund at risk investments in new equipment like EV charging stations and so should my competition.

• Another likely competitor under this scheme is the state government itself, whereby the state government starts pushing one form of power (electric) over others, instead of letting the competitive marketplace work under capitalism.

• As a propane and heating oil marketer I support a clean environment. There are many ways to achieve this without rationing. Incentivizing the sale of electric vehicles does nothing to meet your stated goals of "equity, environmental justice, and non-discrimination." As one example, the stated goals could be achieved far faster and cheaper via efforts to assist low-income Virginians to purchase more fuel efficient vehicles that meet current and future CAFÉ standards.

• History has proven that rationing followed by prohibition - the ultimate goal of TCI - has led to black markets, unregulated and untaxed sales, and undue burdens on law enforcement.

• The impact of these proposals will not be solely on propane and heating oil businesses such as mine - what about the auto repair industry, muffler shops, service facilities at new car dealers, quick lubes etc.? What about agriculture, construction and watermen who will be forced to scrap present equipment or pay artificially high prices due to rationing? What about the consumer who will experience not only higher prices to operate their personal vehicles, but higher prices for consumer goods and services?

Cockerham Energy opposes the TCI plan to ration, tax and ultimately eliminate fossil fuels.

Hey we pay enough in taxes, your carbon BS is just another way to get into our pockets. How about lowering taxes instead of increasing them every year. Should trow out everyone of you communist bastards out office! MAGA 2020

Mass transportation will help reduce congestion in many areas and reduce our carbon emissions. Infrastructure design, construction and maintenance will also provide jobs that will help our economy.

I believe strongly in this initiative. It provides a means for enhancing infrastructure, streamlining regional transportation initiatives, and, most importantly, pushing for a low carbon future and fighting climate change.

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative has been hugely successful and this plan builds on that model. If we are to achieve significant reductions in carbon emissions, transportation will need to fall under a similar framework to power generation. With the accelerating advent of electric cars and vehicles, the cap imposed by this initiative will be less costly than anticipated. Further there are substantial public health benefits to reducing traffic, removing diesel and gasoline based trucks, and having distribution centers be less polluting.

I want to submit my extremely vocal support for this initiative.

We can cut poverty and pollution at the same time. We urge you to move forward with a regional program that prioritizes the needs of communities overburdened with pollution and underserved in mobility options.”

As a Maine native and an individual that cares deeply about our environment I would urge everyone to not implement policies such as this upon the residents of Maine and New England. Fuel surcharges and taxes are deeply regressive in nature and would hit the poor and working poor of this region the hardest. From primary transportation costs to downstream cost increases in food and consumer goods this scheme will hurt the most vulnerable among us. Carbon control and mitigation can be achieved via passive means such as maintaining green space, planting trees, protecting small family farms that engage in organic and regenerative farming practices.
Finally cap and trade schemes are unproven as to their effectiveness and offer little more than carbon indulgences to those that emit.

Please find attached comments from the New England Power Generators Association on the Transportation and Climate Initiative's Framework for a Draft Policy Proposal.