TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

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.”

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.

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

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.

I'm writing to urge the Governor to join TCI. Whether or not Vermont joins TCI, Vermonters are going to pay at least some of its costs. If Vermont joins TCI, the State will receive more revenue for investments than Vermonters contribute to the program.

The program is also a great opportunity to address economic inequality for Vermont families. A significant portion of TCI proceeds should be directed to reducing the energy burdens of Vermonters with low incomes. This will help Vermont to become more affordable for Vermonters who do not have high incomes.

All the best,
Tom Clynes

No. No. And again No. Since when does our govt bypass our democratic process and institute a tax with no chance for input from the tax payers? I vote and my Rep and State Senator will be hearing from me.

I have problems with my property here Vt. Ticks, poison ivy, 7 invasive species of plants, 4 invasive species of bugs. And my state is going to loose much more now this coming spring to more things caused by climate change .
Also we lose ski and our maple syrup industry’s and tourism because people don’t want to go outside to get ticks and poison ivy. Try fly fishing near those areas lots of times the better the fishing the worse those two problems are ( ticks and poison ivy google the facts please) Fly poles and reels go for thousands of dollars and well to do tourists that own them want to stay in nice bed and and breakfasts and hotels. That bring money to this state along with restaurants.
We simply most charge as much as we can for gas and oil from fossil fuels. Those companies that sell gas and propane can start selling electricity and hydrogen to make up for the lost sales . In the end the private sector will thank us all , for saving their businesses and jobs.
If Killington sky area can have 51 EV charging stations. So can other private sector businesses it will bring more money in then lose money.
It’s simple math . Let’s use simple math

We must reduce pollution from transportation - the largest source of global climate change emissions. We should formally join this plan to reduce emissions. The policy must prioritize clean investments in areas most affected by pollution and for those who don't have access. I support this bipartisan effort going in the right direction while the federal government is pulling us backward.