TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

I prefer to take public transport when possible, and climate change is my most pressing concern. I am fully in favor of planning and developing a low- or no-carbon transportation system to mitigate climate change and to make travel a reasonable moral choice.

I care about reducing pollution from transportation, which is our largest source of global warming emissions (regionally and nationally).

The US lags far behind other advanced industrial democracies in public transportation.

I request that New Hampshire formally join the plan to reduce emissions.

The policy should have a strong component of equity by prioritizing clean investments in areas overburdened by pollution and/or for those who don't have access.

I express gratitude for the bipartisan nature of this project, moving us forward while the federal government takes us backward.

I am a resident of Lexington, and I do volunteer work educating and lobbying on climate action for Citizen' Climate Lobby and the Massachusetts Campaign for a Clean Energy Future. I am pleased that the Governor is pursuing a multi-state transportation and climate initiative. For the program to be effective, it needs to include a price on carbon that is high enough to reduce emissions, and uses (or rebates) the funds raised in a way that protects low and moderate income residents.

It is critical that we decarbonize transportation as quickly as possible as a state, region, nation and world. Please pass the Transportation and Climate Initiative for Vermont and the region! In rural areas people depend on their cars. I have been fortunate to drive an electric car for the last couple of years and will never go back. A small tax on gas when prices are low is a small price to pay to make progress on decarbonizing transportation and providing more public transportation options for all.

Greetings, as a citizen who is concerned with the local and global environment, I am writing to support the Transportation Climate Initiative. Just in the last week, I've seen news articles that even major banks are realizing the importance of the climate crisis and abandoning the big oil companies. The time is now for Maryland and other states to embrace the new economy and support a healthy environment for the regions citizens. We can be a leader for other states and regions through an exciting new and sustainable economy (the green economy is the future) that is putting the health and future of all at the forefront. Let's not be left behind--we can be a leader. Global warming will decimate our shorelines, threaten our cities and economy, destabilize predictable climate and weather patterns that agriculture relies on, make conditions more favorable for novel viruses, and harm beneficial wildlife--plants, insects, and animals of which are the basis for our survival.

I am entirely against this policy because it is not fair to people living and working in rural communities. On one hand, Maine’s politicians say they want to encourage people to stay, live and work in Maine. We already pay very high taxes in Maine without the benefit of municipal services like trash, water, sewage and Internet access. In addition, we have to commute long distances to work, school, the grocery store, to see a doctor, to get treatment at the hospital. To do that we need to pay for, insure and mechanically maintain a decent car and probably use twice as much gasoline as people who do not live in rural areas. Then factor in the bad weather on the lifespan of your vehicle.
I am a volunteer driver for people who need treatment for cancer and I know first hand, the poverty and need to help people with this expense. I might travel 150 miles in a day to get someone to treatment and back. When your doctor says you need to do that four days a week, for four weeks, most people cannot afford the transportation in rural areas, and call on American Cancer volunteers, who provide free transportation and support. I will do it as long as I can afford it. However, coalitions such as this one which will raise the cost for essential components of everyday life in rural areas, are not fair to that segment of the population. They unduly make the cost of living higher than for other citizens. This agreement will hurt small rural business people and farmers most of all because they need the fuel to make their living as well.

I care about reducing pollution from transportation, which is our largest source of global warming emissions (regionally and nationally).
I request that Virginia formally joins the plan to reduce emissions.
I demand that the policy has a strong component of equity by prioritizing clean investments in areas overburdened by pollution and/or for those who don't have access.
Thanks for the bipartisan nature of this project, moving us forward while the Federal government takes us backward.

This plan is bad for Maine and does not, in any way, take into account the needs of the People of Maine.

1) Maine is a Rural State with limited Public transportation. This Plan would needlessly punish people for simply going grocery shopping or going to the doctor due to high fuel costs.

2) Maine has a depressed economy. Wages in the State are consistently lower than the other States in this group. This plan would force people to have to spend more of what they make on fuel costs.

3) Most people in Maine cannot the afford Electric Vehicles that this Plan appears to want to force them to purchase.

4) This Plan does not, in any way, take into account that, even if people wanted to purchase an Electric Vehicle, a vehicle that performs the task currently being done by a Petroleum Fueled vehicle does not exist (Tractor, Combine, Dump Truck, etc). Those that need to use these vehicles will be needlessly burdened by artificially inflated fuel costs.

5) The Elderly and Disabled on fixed incomes will be needlessly burdened by artificially inflated fuel costs. Many are currently finding it difficult to pay for needed medication as is. This will only make it even more difficult for them.

In short, The TCI should be opposed as a Bad Idea.

Thank you,

Guy Brandenstein

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.