TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

I don't pretend to know all the ins and outs of the TCI, but from what I have read about it, the benefits for Vermonters (especially low income and rural Vermonters) and benefits for the climate and our environment, far outweigh any risks. We are in a dire situation with the climate crisis, and we need to take innovative steps to prevent the worst case scenarios. The TCI seems to be a win-win initiative, joining other states in the region to bring revenue into our state to better enable us to take actions that will significantly decrease carbon emissions from the transportation sector. We must join this initiative! Otherwise, we have missed an important opportunity. Thank you.

I'm a CT resident deeply concerned about climate change caused by carbon emissions and the inaction of our current federal government. That's why I feel that strong leadership must be carried out at the state and local levels; in particular, by the governors of our region.

To reduce carbon emissions to the extent necessary to avoid climate disaster, market forces will need to be harnessed to effect rapid and far-reaching change. The astounding growth of renewable energy is one example of the power of market forces to drive rapid sustainable development. By putting a price on carbon via a 'cap-and-trade' or 'cap-and-invest' program throughout the Northeast the external costs of carbon can be 'internalized' and an imperative for economic actors to move quickly towards carbon neutrality.

By joining a regional New England/Mid-Atlantic compact, CT can harness this much larger economic area as a 'force-multiplier' to drive other regions in a similar direction - if they wish to compete in our region. Similar to the power of California's market in driving auto emission reduction measures.

So I urge you to join in this promising regional initiative. I view climate change now as an existential threat on a level with nuclear proliferation, and one that will have to be addressed by leadership at the state level. As such, this is my #1 political concern as a Connecticut voter.

Many thanks for your attention to this.

James H. Whitcomb, Jr.

I abhor this theft of my livelihood via taxation for the fool's pursuit of Carbon Reduction. First most, carbon dioxide is NOT a pollutant! Anthropogenic climate change is NOT a proven fact, it relies on pseudo science, mass hysteria, and most of all (TAX) MONEY. I live in rural Vermont, a state with the lowest carbon footprint of any in our nation. Our economy is precarious at best. We travel to work on rudimentary roads, for limited pay from businesses teetering on financial collapse. Our State government continues to overtax it's citizens to support those that can't or won't support themselves. This CARBON TAX is just more of the same. It will ruin our local economy, bankrupt businesses, and hasten the exodus of those who cannot afford to live here. Your blind ambitions will yield a poisoned fruit.

My name is Jim Whalen and I live in Hudson, MA. I am an avid cross country skier so I KNOW that climate change is real. I also see violent weather all over the place and I read the science. We must do something and soon. So thank you for this initiative. Market or economic based solutions are needed. A tax on carbon simply makes sense. When gas was over $4 a gallon we all drove less and we looked for fuel efficient vehicles. No more. Gas is cheap and we drive more and huge pickups are popular once again. But let’s avoid the problems we saw in France and be cognizant of people who would suffer under a carbon tax. We should return some of the tax revenue to those who would need it.