TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

Material submitted through the TCI Public Input form from April 2019-February 2021 is viewable here. View input submitted from March 1, 2021 forward here. All material submitted on this page informed the participating jurisdictions in the 2019-2020 TCI regional policy design process. Click on the column headings to sort the submissions.

Date	First	Last	Affiliation	City	State	Input	File
2/21/2020	Stephen	Yooung	stephengyoungsblogoftheworld.com	Haddonfield	New Jersey	Public transit in this country, a key in dealing with climate change, has been neglected far too long. As compared with other industrialized countries, our transit infrastructure is inconvenient,... read more Public transit in this country, a key in dealing with climate change, has been neglected far too long. As compared with other industrialized countries, our transit infrastructure is inconvenient, overcrowded, largely obsolete and often dank and dirty. It's a disgrace and leads people to drive far more than they should need to - which in turn results both to excessive carbon emissions and personal stress. A plan like the one here envisioned is a good remedial starting place. When fleshed out, it could potentially transform our living standard much for the better.	-
1/16/2020	Louise	Yohalem	Community member	Mill River	Massachusetts	We need clean transportation so that fewer cars will be necessary. We need clean transportation so that fewer cars will be necessary.	-
2/28/2020	Chris	Yoder	self	Baltimore	Maryland	I write asking you to take action so that the people of Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic states can gain the benefits of a free-market economy. Greenhouse gas pollution is an economic externality.... read more I write asking you to take action so that the people of Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic states can gain the benefits of a free-market economy. Greenhouse gas pollution is an economic externality. When I chose to turn the key in my car I do so knowing that my decision to do so will not impose on me anywhere near the full cost of the decision I make. The costs of the pollution I create are borne in part by society as a whole rather than me. Such a subsidy prevents our society from enjoying the benefits of a free-market economy where by scarce resources (including pure air and a stable climate) are allocated efficiently and equitably. The option of a solution through regulation is both inefficient and ineffective. Let the invisible hand of the market work its' magic.	-
2/26/2020	Amanda	Yobbagy	Johnson Matthey	Audubon	Pennsylvania	"The United States constitutes 5% of the world population and contributes to 22% of world’s carbon emission." It is crucial that our state takes control of the climate crisis immediately... read more "The United States constitutes 5% of the world population and contributes to 22% of world’s carbon emission." It is crucial that our state takes control of the climate crisis immediately. These are pathetic statistics for a country that is one of the most developed in the world. The effects of climate change are having a dangerous impact OUR environment. We have seen astronomical increases in sea levels, hurricanes, wild fires, melted arctic ice, and other natural disasters because of climate change. If we do not do anything about this disaster we are rapidly killing off forestation, wildlife, and HUMAN LIFE, and will continue to do so. (There is an average of 600,000 deaths/year related to climate change. Specifically in developing & 3rd world countries). We demand that our state takes action by joining the plan to reduce transportation emissions, and develops a strong program that invests in public transportation, biking, walking, and prioritizes equity. If we don't help take control of this crisis ACTIVELY, we only have ourselves to blame when it's too late.	-
2/26/2020	Elizabeth	Yetman	Windsor public schools	Windsor	Connecticut	Cleaning up our transportation is critical to slowing down and eventually reversing climate change. It is also essential for creating a sustainable environment in which we have clean air to breath... read more Cleaning up our transportation is critical to slowing down and eventually reversing climate change. It is also essential for creating a sustainable environment in which we have clean air to breath. Connecticut has one of the highest rates of asthma in this country. I know what it is like to stay awake nights trying to deal with my son's asthma attacks. I have also seen the growing smog and dirty air that is created by our fossil fuel burning vehicles in the mountains of Vermont. We need good, reliable and abundant public transportation that will reduce our need for individual cars, support people in every economic class, and improve the quality of life in all of our communities including urban, suburban and rural. For instance, my son has benefitted greatly from the bus system between rural Stores and Hartford. Good public transportation is an economic engine and provides access to economic opportunities for all people. Making a transition to electric energy to power that transportation is also essential to reduce carbon emissions and to create a truly green economy. It will help to reduce health care costs as well and improve the quality of life wherever that transportation is found. Owning an electric vehicle I know how much more efficient and safer these vehicles are. We need our government to lead on these issues and to take the steps necessary to combat the climate crisis.	-
10/25/2019	william	yeo	Citizens	durham	Maine	Thanks, let’s push this through Thanks, let’s push this through	-
2/24/2020	art	yatsko	Voter	warwick	Rhode Island	This is a terrible idea. There is no tax more regressive then one on energy and transportation. Burdening the working poor and the middle class without proof it will work or a truly accurate... read more This is a terrible idea. There is no tax more regressive then one on energy and transportation. Burdening the working poor and the middle class without proof it will work or a truly accurate climate model that proves the goals will work is unconscionable. If the political pressure is so strong that you must "do something " then adopt this proposal but use monopoly money until you have a base line. In a few years scientists should have a working climate model that will prove the whole scheme worthless. Or science could prove me wrong. You might be reluctant to shelve this initiative on my theories but probably not as reluctant as I am to support this on your theories.	-
10/16/2020	Isabel	Yannatos	Clean Air Council	Philadelphia	Pennsylvania	We need a strong TCI. Please include 1. A cap on carbon emissions of at least 25% by 2032 2. An increase in the minimum investment in overburdened and underserved communities (>35... read more We need a strong TCI. Please include 1. A cap on carbon emissions of at least 25% by 2032 2. An increase in the minimum investment in overburdened and underserved communities (>35%) 3. Investments towards active transportation like better sidewalks, bicycle infrastructure, and high quality public transit. Thank you.	-
2/26/2020	Brian	Yanke	None	Madison	Wisconsin	I demand a strong program that invests in public transportation, biking, walking, and prioritizes equity. My state should get involved with the climate change fight. I demand a strong program that invests in public transportation, biking, walking, and prioritizes equity. My state should get involved with the climate change fight.	-
5/3/2019	Sunyoung	Yang	Trenton resident	Trenton	New Jersey	The cap and investment and other carbon market trading and offset measures are extremely concerning in these proposals. Net zero emissions framework is also problematic. Low income communities... read more The cap and investment and other carbon market trading and offset measures are extremely concerning in these proposals. Net zero emissions framework is also problematic. Low income communities and people of color are living in some of the highly trafficked routes where freight and manufacturing storage processing industries have been emitting high levels of toxins for years in the region. Any offset scheme would further concentrate the actual amount of air pollution for environmental justice communities and be detrimental to our lives. Environmental justice groups in CA have attested to this reality after going through their own climate initiatives--the offset market abroad has led to devastating consequences for Indigenous folks in the Amazon getting kicked out of their land for carbon forestry REDD+ credit market while EJ communities in CA living next to major freight corridors, Chevron/Texaco oil refineries, and other polluting industries have seen co-pollutants concentrated while also carbon emissions have gone up. No community benefit from any EJ or equity funds generated through market trading of carbon credits will alleviate the increased health risks from further pollution by these trading schemes. Please take this provisions out and concentrate on real policy strategies that will reduce in every part of this region carbon and other toxic co-pollutants. The emissions cuts have to be absolute and not a switch and bait tactic. Offsets and trading are false solutions with tremendous consequences for human rights violations and endangering our community health while giving us a false sense that we are actually reducing emissions when we're not. Electrifying freight and transport has been done in other regions and along with other initiatives in RGGI to convert our grid into real renewables (not nuclear or clean coal) we can make the emissions targets. Carbon trading will never get us to the emissions reductions while creating more disaster in the process.	-
11/1/2019	nicole	xanders	n/a	Fryeburg	Maine	The last thing we need are higher gas/diesel prices, especially on something that provides heat and transportation to the Mainers. The last thing we need are higher gas/diesel prices, especially on something that provides heat and transportation to the Mainers.	-
11/6/2019	Barbara	Wynroth	none	Burlington	Vermont	My two major concerns are Lake Champlain and other bodies of water, and air quality - particularly in Burlington. The degradation of Lake Champlain due to road runoff, sewage spill... read more My two major concerns are Lake Champlain and other bodies of water, and air quality - particularly in Burlington. The degradation of Lake Champlain due to road runoff, sewage spill, algae and farming practices, as well as Vermont's lakes and rivers, is deeply concerning. The concentration on roads and parking lots at the expense of solutions such as light rail and rail connecting Vermont is repeating the past and compounding present problems.	-
10/29/2019	Logan	Wyman	Maine citizen	Harpswell	Maine	Raising the tax on gasoline is not right, and will do nothing but burden Mainers with even more taxes. Meanwhile you want to give money to people for driving electric cars, who only wealthy people... read more Raising the tax on gasoline is not right, and will do nothing but burden Mainers with even more taxes. Meanwhile you want to give money to people for driving electric cars, who only wealthy people or people who have good credit and a good paying job could ever own. There is a broken or non existent public transportation system in maine. People can’t help but to use their cars to get to where they need to go, more than half of them blue booking for under $5000.	-
2/7/2020	Lynn	Wurzburg	St.Johnsbury Town Energy Committee	Saint Johnsbury	Vermont	We are working hard in the NEK ( Northeast Kingdom) to reduce carbon emissions- lots of driving in this rural area so we need the incentives that TCI would provide - can’t do much on a meaningful... read more We are working hard in the NEK ( Northeast Kingdom) to reduce carbon emissions- lots of driving in this rural area so we need the incentives that TCI would provide - can’t do much on a meaningful scale without it. As far as it amounting to another tax on fuel- the price of gas differs as much as 25 cents or more per gallon between St. Johnsbury and Lyndonville, the next town north. An added tax of 5 cents pales in comparison to these fluctuations. And the TCI takes seriously the impacts on rural and low income populations, which is a key strength. Vermont needs to be part of this initiative so we have a place at the table when decisions are made.	-
11/2/2019	Vesa	Wuoristo	None	Bangor	Maine		-
2/25/2020	Sebastian	Wu	UVM Grad, Born & Raised Vermonter	Brownsville	Vermont	I believe Vermont must not only join TCI, but fight to make it as strong on climate as it can be. It is a critical opportunity for our region to get a handle on transportation emissions while... read more I believe Vermont must not only join TCI, but fight to make it as strong on climate as it can be. It is a critical opportunity for our region to get a handle on transportation emissions while investing in more sustainable alternatives (therefore strengthening our economy by creating jobs and resilience). Regarding the issue of equity, it is up to our state to ensure that the millions we make from the auction of carbon credits goes to helping low-income and rural Vermonters out by incentivizing low/no-carbon alternatives, and/or in the form of direct cash payouts.	-
11/8/2019	Karen	Wright	- None -	Framingham	Massachusetts	Stop this tax! Stop this tax!	-
11/12/2019	Leah	Wright	Independent	East Falmouth	Massachusetts	My husband and I own a business. It is a small business that feed 5 different family. A gas tax would cripple our business. Please no gas tax. Stop over reaching into our pockets My husband and I own a business. It is a small business that feed 5 different family. A gas tax would cripple our business. Please no gas tax. Stop over reaching into our pockets	-
11/15/2019	Christopher	Wright	Independent	Plymouth	Massachusetts	This is a tax on the people and MUST be put to vote. Do you recall "For the People, By the People"? read more This is a tax on the people and MUST be put to vote. Do you recall "For the People, By the People"?	-
2/21/2020	Anne	Wright	none	Arlington	Massachusetts	Transportation is the largest source of air pollution in the region, and we need to build a modern, clean, safe, and accessible transportation system for the 21st century. The more we limit... read more Transportation is the largest source of air pollution in the region, and we need to build a modern, clean, safe, and accessible transportation system for the 21st century. The more we limit pollution from motor fuels, the more jobs we create, the more the economy grows, the healthier our air becomes, and the more lives we save. MA should join TCI to fund better transportation infrastructure, reduce traffic, and make my community a cleaner, safer place to live.	-

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