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
2/28/2020	Scott	Bates	Fuel Company Owner	Stacyville	Maine	I own and operate a small business in Maine. To service our customers we travel many miles per year on our fleet of vehicles. Maine is already at a competitive disadvantage due to our... read more I own and operate a small business in Maine. To service our customers we travel many miles per year on our fleet of vehicles. Maine is already at a competitive disadvantage due to our geographical make-up, high cost of electricity and one of the highest overall tax rates in the Union. We have limited public transportation which require most folks from Maine to commute via vehicle to and from work. In addition, we have to rely on our vehicles to purchase groceries, visit local clothing stores, transport our children to school events, etc.. This list goes on and on. We cannot simply park our vehicles and chose another mode of transportation. To include Maine in this initiative will be catastrophic to our economy. As a business owner I will be forced to pass this cost on to my Customers. They in turn will have less disposable income to fuel the economy in Maine. My Customers already have a struggle to pay their fuel bills. I cannot speak to how this will impact other states, but I suspect outside of the large cities (Which already have large participation rates in public transportation) the rural areas will be in a similar situation as many of us in Maine.	-
10/31/2019	Jordan	Bastedo	Concerned voter	Baileyville	Maine	Taxation is theft. We’re already taxed enough as it is. Quit using something that naturally occurs as a method to force more control over those that you represent. Taxation is theft. We’re already taxed enough as it is. Quit using something that naturally occurs as a method to force more control over those that you represent.	-
2/28/2020	John	Bartow	Empire State Forest Products Association	Rensselaer	New York	Submission from the Empire State Forest Products Association. Submission from the Empire State Forest Products Association.	2-28-2020 Draft MOU Comments.pdf
2/28/2020	Cathy	Barton	Sierra Club	ANNAPOLIS	Maryland	I support Maryland's adoption of a regional bipartisan transportation policy that achieves a minimum 40 percent reduction in transportation sector climate pollution by... read more I support Maryland's adoption of a regional bipartisan transportation policy that achieves a minimum 40 percent reduction in transportation sector climate pollution by 2030. This will help to keep Maryland on track to meet the climate goals updated by the General Assembly in 2016.	-
2/21/2020	Anne	Bartoc	member	Brooklyn	New York	New York City is able to function as a viable metropolis only with its expansive public transit system. I have lived here my entire life. It is especially concerning to see climate crisis events... read more New York City is able to function as a viable metropolis only with its expansive public transit system. I have lived here my entire life. It is especially concerning to see climate crisis events including tornadoes, earthquakes, and super storms all occurring in our area in the last 10 years. Believe me these events are new and must be addressed as warnings. We need viable energy sources to run New York City public transportation that will not add to our climate crisis. Replacing gas fueled buses with electric ones would be the first step.	-
1/29/2020	Thomas A	Bartlett III	#NoCarbonTaxVermont	Jericho,	Vermont	There is no "Climate Crisis" or "Climate Emergency"! Stop the fear mongering. Vermont has an "Affordability Crisis" that needs attention. It's time to address... read more There is no "Climate Crisis" or "Climate Emergency"! Stop the fear mongering. Vermont has an "Affordability Crisis" that needs attention. It's time to address what matters most to Vermonters such as lowering the cost of living by eliminating the state pension shortfall and lowering high property taxes and healthcare premiums. Your TCI is intended to make purchasing transportation fuels so painfully expensive that the astronomically high price discourages people from buying it. In short, consumers will have to pay more at the pump to fund increased government spending. Make no mistake, this is a tax. More precisely, it is a carbon dioxide tax being implemented through a gas tax. But, unlike motor fuel taxes levied to pay for roads, bridges, and transportation infrastructure (a reasonable fee for use), the TCI would be the equivalent of a “sin tax” – a penalty for engaging in bad behavior. I do not believe that driving to and for work, transporting children to school, transporting goods, going to the grocery store, and all the other necessary activities that generally require a vehicle should be treated by governments as a sin. These are not activities people can, or should be forced to, avoid.	-
10/31/2019	Lori	Bartlett	Taxpayer	Whitefield	Maine	Poor people cannot stand up under these additional cost. We already can't hardly afford to survive. Many of us make choices everyday what we'll be going without to make it through the... read more Poor people cannot stand up under these additional cost. We already can't hardly afford to survive. Many of us make choices everyday what we'll be going without to make it through the month. Adding fees, taxes to gas is simply horrendous. Maine is a long distance state, we travel 30-50mi easy from one to another. We cannot afford be moneyed out of our cars buy these fees. We can't afford the luxury of electrical cars, it's too Beyond our means. Don't make Mainers worse off. Stop this foolishness, we cannot afford, we are Not California.	-
10/31/2019	Erica	Bartlett	UCS member	Portland	Maine	My name is Erica Bartlett, and I live in Portland, Maine. I’m writing in support of the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI) because Maine is in great need of clean transportation options.... read more My name is Erica Bartlett, and I live in Portland, Maine. I’m writing in support of the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI) because Maine is in great need of clean transportation options. I’m grateful that Gov. Mills is focusing on climate change, including the issue of pollution from emissions, and that this effort has strong bipartisan support. I hope that the TCI policy design take the latest science on climate emissions into consideration. I would also ask that the policy addresses issues of equity so that rural, low-income, and/or aging populations are not hurt by this program – rather, they should be helped. We need more rural transit options, including electric cars and buses, but we also need more of those options in urban areas. I look forward to seeing how this initiative evolves, and thanks again to those who are leading this effort.	-
1/29/2020	Maria	Bartlett	Andover Garden Club	Andover	Massachusetts	This is an extremely urgent program and MA should engage at the 25% level. As cars become more efficient at mpg, folks will not notice the added charge, especially since it will be done at the... read more This is an extremely urgent program and MA should engage at the 25% level. As cars become more efficient at mpg, folks will not notice the added charge, especially since it will be done at the supplier level. We need to cut the transportation emissions and this is a great way to do it!	-
1/16/2020	JANET	BARTHOLOMEW	retired	Hingham	Massachusetts	I support the Transportation and Climate Initiative. We must act as soon as possible to stop global warming and improve our environment. I support the Transportation and Climate Initiative. We must act as soon as possible to stop global warming and improve our environment.	-
1/16/2020	Edwin	Bartholomew	Hingham Cong. Church Green Committee	Hingham	Massachusetts	I support this TCI initiative. We need to get under control the amount of carbon emissions especially in this very populated Northeast quadrant of our country. If this includes a gas tax hike, so... read more I support this TCI initiative. We need to get under control the amount of carbon emissions especially in this very populated Northeast quadrant of our country. If this includes a gas tax hike, so be it! The costs of NOT supporting such a proposal will far outweigh any costs of implementing it over the long run. The continued development of, and access to public transportation in a city such as Boston where the roads always seem to be jam-packed is crucial to the health of our city and metropolitan area and its inhabitants. Getting neighboring states on board will also be invaluable in this age of increasing mobility. I heartily support this effort!!	-
10/30/2019	NICHOLAS & Margaret	Bartenhagen	Citizens	Kennebunk	Maine	We strongly support this initiative, and any others that seek to address the issue of climate disruption and greenhouse gas emissions in Maine. We are residents of Kennebunk, Me. We strongly support this initiative, and any others that seek to address the issue of climate disruption and greenhouse gas emissions in Maine. We are residents of Kennebunk, Me.	-
2/25/2020	Margaret	Bartenhagen	Ms.	Kennebunk	Maine	As a member of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy, Kennebunk has for the past year or so been engaged in a greenhouse gas inventory for the community through the efforts of the... read more As a member of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy, Kennebunk has for the past year or so been engaged in a greenhouse gas inventory for the community through the efforts of the Energy Efficiency Committee. What we are finding from our data collection is that transportation carbon emissions are by far the biggest contributors to the total community emissions output. Therefore, the effort to design a regional low-carbon transportation policy would be a huge step towards reducing carbon emissions, not only in Kennebunk, but throughout the state of Maine.	-
10/25/2019	Smith	Barry W	NRC Member	Island Falls	Maine	In short, we must realize our future (our children's future and future generations from now) on this earth depends how we caretake the fortunes (natural resources) that we have, and we need... read more In short, we must realize our future (our children's future and future generations from now) on this earth depends how we caretake the fortunes (natural resources) that we have, and we need to courageously need to work to that end. We can see, along with the input from scientists, that there is no greater and crucial time than now to be the responsible caretakers we need to be. Let's do this. Go TCI!	-
11/4/2019	Brett	Barry	Clean Energy	Charleston	South Carolina		CE Comments on TCI Draft Proposal.pdf
2/28/2020	Patricia	Barry	Republican	Pittsfield	Maine	We already pay enough gas and other taxes. Being on a fixed income will make it harder to be out in the community for my well being. I volunteer locally and do not need to pay more to do so. No... read more We already pay enough gas and other taxes. Being on a fixed income will make it harder to be out in the community for my well being. I volunteer locally and do not need to pay more to do so. No more taxes!!	-
2/28/2020	karyn	barry	none	waltham	Massachusetts	I'm asking you to 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... read more I'm asking you to 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.”	-
2/28/2020	Brett	Barry	Clean Energy	Charleston	South Carolina	Thank you for the opportunity to provide the attached comments. Regards, Brett Barry Thank you for the opportunity to provide the attached comments. Regards, Brett Barry	TCI Draft MOU Comments 2-28-20.pdf
12/18/2019	Jay	Barrows	State Representative	1st Bristol District (Foxboro, Mansfield, Norton)	Massachusetts	I am proud of our great state of Massachusetts and its record to increase renewable energy. However, I stand firmly against TCI, and I do believe that if states followed our lead, then this... read more I am proud of our great state of Massachusetts and its record to increase renewable energy. However, I stand firmly against TCI, and I do believe that if states followed our lead, then this proposal would not even be necessary. I think that Governor Charlie Baker should bring this proposal to the Massachusetts legislature for a vote.	-
12/1/2019	Mark	Barrieau	Taxpayer and resident	Templeton	Massachusetts	Governor Baker - shame on you. You are not king, you cannot impose a tax. And even if you were king, the people of Massachusetts have revolted against one in the past, we can do it again. No, No... read more Governor Baker - shame on you. You are not king, you cannot impose a tax. And even if you were king, the people of Massachusetts have revolted against one in the past, we can do it again. No, No, No to your TCI and this tax.	-

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