2/28/2020 |
Jacqueline |
Klopp |
Center for Sustainable Urban Development, Columbia University |
New York |
New York |
This Initiative is extremely important to create momentum and collaboration to address our deadly emissions from transportation which constitute a third (and growing) of our carbon emissions in... read more This Initiative is extremely important to create momentum and collaboration to address our deadly emissions from transportation which constitute a third (and growing) of our carbon emissions in the US. We need to address these problems not only because of our pressing need to avoid the catastrophic implications of climate change but also because air pollution and crashes are also killing so many of us right now- including young people. Strong investment in clean, efficient public transport and non-motorized transport as well as improved land-use is a win-win-win move forward. Smart electrification of our vehicles can lead to many benefits in terms of saving money and costs in public health, but this too requires investment, cooperation and strategy that this initiative is helping to do. Finally, in New York, we passed the inspiring Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act with ambitious targets for carbon emission reduction and social justice. We will not succeed without a strong initiative to address transportation and since NY is part of an important regional system, we must work closely together on this initiative to succeed in our goals. This initiative is absolutely critical for us to move forward and is long overdue. It deserves support. |
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10/9/2019 |
Cheryl |
Hajek |
CDC Bookkeeping |
Plymouth |
Maine |
Maine is a different state, mostly in climate, but also in the number of people that live at poverty level. In my business I see small businesses that are struggling to stay afloat, make a... read more Maine is a different state, mostly in climate, but also in the number of people that live at poverty level. In my business I see small businesses that are struggling to stay afloat, make a profit, feed their families, as they watch costs continue to rise. 2018 was profitable for many but 2019 had been different as taxes and costs of goods continually rise. I have lived in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Maine and I can tell you that Maine should not be joining with these others states in any kind of tax agreement since the disparity in the climate is huge. I see many more people living in poverty in Maine than anywhere else. For 20 years I saw the state gradually get on its feet and now this governor wants to make Maine completely unaffordable. The problem is the poor have no place to go. Many are becoming poor because of the increases in costs by this governor. The people must be the ones to make this decision. |
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2/26/2020 |
Marco |
Pardi |
CDC (ret) GSY (ret) |
Lawrenceville |
Georgia |
The science is clear. The effects are already manifest. I am acting primarily on behalf of my daughter and grandchildren but all life on this planet is at risk unless we make the appropriate... read more The science is clear. The effects are already manifest. I am acting primarily on behalf of my daughter and grandchildren but all life on this planet is at risk unless we make the appropriate choices now. |
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10/15/2020 |
Amy |
Tecosky-Feldman |
CCL, CANN |
Narberth |
Pennsylvania |
Our town is out of space and can't expand. It we are to maintain our small business district and tax base we need to eliminate some parking to make space for people in public space. That... read more Our town is out of space and can't expand. It we are to maintain our small business district and tax base we need to eliminate some parking to make space for people in public space. That means connecting our town to robust regional transit, bike, and walking infrastructure. we also need research evidence of benefits to business of active transit. |
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5/25/2019 |
Ronny |
Kaplan |
CCL greater Stamford, CT |
Stamford |
Connecticut |
•I am a concerned citizen who would like my grandchildren to inherit a livable earth & climate.
•The carbon price must be high enough to have the desired effect of reducing carbon... read more •I am a concerned citizen who would like my grandchildren to inherit a livable earth & climate.
•The carbon price must be high enough to have the desired effect of reducing carbon emissions.
•There should be a strong component of social equity
•I think it is excellent that this project is bipartisan.
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5/25/2019 |
Nancy |
Watson |
CCL |
Greenwich |
Connecticut |
As an extremely concerned citizen and chapter leader of Greater Stamford CCL, I have learned so much about the most sensible policy to move towards renewables : carbon fee and dividend. In fact, a... read more As an extremely concerned citizen and chapter leader of Greater Stamford CCL, I have learned so much about the most sensible policy to move towards renewables : carbon fee and dividend. In fact, a bill (HR 763) is working it's way through congress to enact this policy. Simply put, a steadily rising fee is placed on carbon emissions which is then is returned to every American household in the form of a montlhy dividend. The increasing fee signals the market that renewables are increasingly more attractive than fossil fuels. The dividend protects lower income families rom the price increase. Environmentalists and economists see this as the best policy to move towards renewables while protecting the vulnerable. And it has bi-partisan support, including from the fossil fuel companies. I urge you to explore this policy in the transition to renewables in the transportation sector. |
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1/16/2020 |
Melinda |
Skinner |
CCL |
Richmond |
Virginia |
We must go forward with everything possible to clean up transportation. Only people who don't spend time outdoors (not counting golf courses!) can possibly fail to realize what is happening... read more We must go forward with everything possible to clean up transportation. Only people who don't spend time outdoors (not counting golf courses!) can possibly fail to realize what is happening to our air, water, soil, and ecological balance. The science is clear, and we are losing the battle agains CO2 poisoning-- faster than researchers believed even a few years ago. |
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1/21/2020 |
Johanna |
Stoneking |
CCL |
Colonial Heights |
Virginia |
We can do this We can do this |
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1/27/2020 |
David |
Rubin |
CCL |
Rochester |
New York |
New York State politicians seem to not want to really support electric vehicles. They have been bought and paid for buy the fossil fuel automobile dealers. Here's why I believe this to be... read more New York State politicians seem to not want to really support electric vehicles. They have been bought and paid for buy the fossil fuel automobile dealers. Here's why I believe this to be true. First, recent sales figures, nationally, indicate Tesla is selling 77% of battery electric vehicles. New York subsidized charging stations support the 23%, not the 77%. It seems to me that all viable vehicles should be supported by states subsidized charging stations. The argument that Tesla doesn't support existing standards is bogus, since there were no standards when Tesla started selling cars and providing a bare bones charging network. Second, the adoption of electric vehicles should be made as easy and convenient as possible. NYS should require NEMA 14-50 electrical outlets in the parking area of all new construction, especially single family homes with garages or driveways. A dedicated charging station should be acceptable as an alternative. Third, there should be no artificial barriers to the sale of electric vehicles. Placing restrictions on non-dealer sales clearly indicates the lack of commitment to improving the environment. If the current auto dealers offer a superior experience to people wanting to buy an electric vehicle, people would shop at the dealers. Currently indications are that fossil fuel auto dealers are not really prepared to sell electric vehicles. For the near future, and to enhance the adoption of electric vehicles, no artificial restrictions should be imposed on their sale. The prohibition of manufacturer owned sales outlets competing with their dealers should be continued for the sake of fairness. Fourth, I propose a very generous subsidy for electric vehicles that support "Vehicle to Grid" (V2G) capability. If you do the numbers, drawing 10 KW from 1 million electric vehicles when needed is equivalent to a 10 gigawatt battery backup. Ultimately, this should reduce or eliminate the need for utility scale battery backup, since the wind doesn't always blow and the sun doesn't always shine. Battery manufacturers probably oppose this capability since they will sell fewer utility scale battery systems. Once this technology is kick started by a generous subsidy for a few thousand cars, the capability will become common and useful. |
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11/7/2019 |
Karim |
Beers |
Cce Tompkins program coordinator |
Ithaca |
New York |
The framework looks good. The cap and invest program won't be enough to meet climate targets. Starting in early 2022 is not soon enough. Can you pilot this next year on a smaller level to... read more The framework looks good. The cap and invest program won't be enough to meet climate targets. Starting in early 2022 is not soon enough. Can you pilot this next year on a smaller level to work out kinks and answer questions? Thank you |
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10/23/2019 |
Scott |
Steinbach |
Caton Auto Clinic |
Catonsville |
Maryland |
I am deeply and gravely concerned over this petition. By limiting the amount people will drive you are affecting an entire industry and workforce on the available cars to work on after the... read more I am deeply and gravely concerned over this petition. By limiting the amount people will drive you are affecting an entire industry and workforce on the available cars to work on after the industry has already sustained raising workforce costs. We as an industry cannot sustain being attacked on both angles by our own government who is supposed to help foster small business instead of kill it. I voted for a Republican Governor in my state to help protect me from these issues. |
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2/28/2020 |
Dennis |
Casey |
Casey & Associates |
Groton |
Vermont |
I support TCI. Fossil fuel companies have been too slow to research and develop alternative fuels and this could help that process. I also think that we have a lot to gain from the investment of... read more I support TCI. Fossil fuel companies have been too slow to research and develop alternative fuels and this could help that process. I also think that we have a lot to gain from the investment of funds that Vermont will receive. Developing alternative transportation modalities, improving the ability to live closer to town centers and helping Vermonters to see the benefits of driving more fuel efficient vehicles are critical and can be assisted by TCI. |
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11/4/2019 |
Richard |
Phelps |
Carroll Fuel and High's Stores |
Towson |
Maryland |
My company operates in Maryland as well as parts of Delaware, Virginia and Pennsylvania. I am Not in favor of the Transportation Climate Initiative as it sets out a framework that imposes an... read more My company operates in Maryland as well as parts of Delaware, Virginia and Pennsylvania. I am Not in favor of the Transportation Climate Initiative as it sets out a framework that imposes an unfair burden on all vehicle owners and thousands of businesses including my own.There have only been a handful of solicitations for feedback. No one knows the full detail of this proposal. The claims for a positive environmental impact have not been proven. This proposal places the burden of new taxes in a disproportionate way onto the poor and rural communities. |
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11/24/2019 |
MARK |
CARRINGTON |
Carrington LLC |
East Longmeadow |
Massachusetts |
An increase of the gas tax should be voted by the people not forced on the people. An increase of the gas tax should be voted by the people not forced on the people. |
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2/24/2020 |
Wendy |
Buhner |
Caring parent / farmer |
Wells River |
Vermont |
We are in support of all efforts to reduce carbon emissions and feel that any action taken in that direction is a step towards collectively caring for our planet. We are in support of all efforts to reduce carbon emissions and feel that any action taken in that direction is a step towards collectively caring for our planet. |
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2/25/2020 |
Jennifer |
Horwitz |
CARI |
Providence |
Rhode Island |
I support TCI because we should be able to get around our city without needing to own a car. It's better for our communities and for the planet. read more I support TCI because we should be able to get around our city without needing to own a car. It's better for our communities and for the planet. |
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1/16/2020 |
Peter |
Bull |
Carbon Productions LLC |
New City |
New York |
Carbon mitigation where ever possible. Carbon mitigation where ever possible. |
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5/29/2019 |
Mary Jo |
Maffei |
Carbon Pollution Fee and Rebate Group |
Amherst |
Massachusetts |
I live in Shutesbury, MA and am working to pass carbon pollution fee and rebate legislation in Massachusetts. I am the chair of the Carbon Pollution Fee and Rebate Group of Climate Action Now and... read more I live in Shutesbury, MA and am working to pass carbon pollution fee and rebate legislation in Massachusetts. I am the chair of the Carbon Pollution Fee and Rebate Group of Climate Action Now and work as part of the Coalition for a Clean Energy Future, a group that is solely dedicated to passing carbon pollution pricing in MA. We are supporting Representative Jennifer Benson’s bill - H2810 “An Act to Promote Green Infrastructure and Reduce Carbon Emissions.”
We are also very much in support of TCI as an important piece of the climate change solution. It will be so helpful to develop regional plans like this one to price carbon pollution. As you contemplate how to put together the best possible plan, we would stress the importance of charging a significantly high price on carbon pollution and ramping that price up yearly until CO2 goals are met. Without such pricing the bill will not be sufficiently motivating to effect the needed changes in consumer spending. It is also crucial to structure the bill in such a way that it protects low- and moderate-income people from an unsupportable burden.
We also believe that it is imperative that multiple approaches to climate change are enacted in this time of crisis, not just one. The carbon pricing bill our organization supports in MA will cover emissions from heating, cooling, and powering buildings as well as from transportation, and it is supported by climate justice groups. As a fee and rebate bill, it is transparent and has low administrative costs. It’s structure is similar to the fee and rebate bill supported by Citizens Climate Lobby and recently introduced at the federal level. Thus, H2810 will serve as a model for the other states and will support the regional and federal effort.
H2810 is written to be completely compatible with TCI or other carbon pollution pricing proposals. It will subtract the price that TCI charges for a ton of pollution from the price charged by H2810. We need both TCI and H2810. We request that the TCI planning group acknowledge the importance of multiple approaches to cover multiple sources of carbon pollution and that the group advocate for state carbon bills, as well this regional one.
Thank you for all the good work you are doing planning for a regional TCI. We need the TCI bill as well as other local, state, regional, and federal action to successfully and swiftly address climate change, the most significant challenge of our time.
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2/27/2020 |
Mary Jo |
Maffei |
Carbon Pollution Fee and Rebate Group |
Shutesbury |
Massachusetts |
February 27, 2020
Testimony to TCI by Mary Jo Maffei
Chair Carbon Pollution Fee and Rebate Group
TCI can be an important way to reduce emissions of transportation.... read more February 27, 2020
Testimony to TCI by Mary Jo Maffei
Chair Carbon Pollution Fee and Rebate Group
TCI can be an important way to reduce emissions of transportation. I am glad there is an effort to do this through TCI. Whatever we do, though, has to be effective and based on science, has to be equitable and must require an honest assessment of the challenges ahead.
Integrity in the Process
The current proposals are described as cutting transportation emissions by between 20% and 25%. A quick look at supporting TCI documents shows that this analysis is based on a state’s business-as-usual transportation emissions that is expected to drop 19% over a decade. Thus, TCI will only contribute at most a 6% drop in emissions. In Massachusetts, where I live, transportation is 40% of emissions, so TCI will reduce total emissions by 2.4%. And these estimates are using the best or most rosy assumptions.
It is important that TCI be transparent and honest. In this era of misinformation and given the seriousness of the effects of climate change, we cannot afford to be less than honest with ourselves about the potential results of different efforts to address climate change.
Effectiveness
The TCI process must provide policy options that address science-based requirements for climate mitigation which limits global warming to 1.5C over pre-industrial levels. That will require emissions reductions around the globe and in Massachusetts on the order of 40% of current emissions levels per decade. The TCI process is only considering efforts to reduce transportation climate emissions by 1%, 3% or 6% over business-as-usual emissions reductions, over a decade. And we have no assurance at all that business-as-usual emissions reductions will be significant. I urge the TCI group to be more ambitious; we need to have much steeper emissions reductions if we are going to slow down the terrible effects of climate change.
Additionally, the Transportation Climate Initiative has assumed that this would be a cap program instead of a fee program. I believe this should be revisited. Fee programs are much less complicated than cap programs, much less expensive to run, more predictable, much easier to design for effectiveness, equity, and transparency. A market such as being proposed is also more likely to be open to fraud. I believe that a fee process is more honest and if this is coupled with payments to residents more acceptable.
Equity
The TCI process must assure that policy options that address transportation needs in each state are equitable for low-income communities, environmental justice communities and other disproportionately affected groups. Policies must address equity regarding access to public transportation, cost-effectiveness of public transportation, traffic congestion and its effects, the reduction of transportation climate emissions and related health impacts, impacts on access to new jobs, access to greener transportation options, and access to greener automobile technologies. TCI can’t leave these as decisions to be made on a state-by- state basis. TCI must include strong value statements about how equity will be created for low and moderate income residents and for vulnerable communities. Certainly direct investment in green infrastructure in low income communities is important. This money must be primarily used in projects that reduce CO2 pollution and only a small portion of it should be used for adaptation to climate change. I recommend at least 80% percent of the funds go to projects that reduce pollution. However, these projects will only help some low-income and middle income residents with a significant delay between when residents need to pay more for fossil fuel and when they receive benefits from these projects. The best way to protect low and moderate income individuals is to provide them with direct payments that for the vast majority of low income residents and for most moderate income residents are larger than their increase payments for fossil fuel.
We need to be honest about the magnitude of the problem, the effort needed to solve it and the impact that our policies are having. That TCI has created a consortium of states trying to act in concert to address climate emissions from transportation is laudable. Now you need to step up to the challenge and design effective and equitable policies to address it.
A regional carbon pollution program is an excellent idea, but for us to safeguard our children’s future it must be aggressive and happen rapidly. Thank you.
Mary Jo Maffei
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2/28/2020 |
Mikdred |
Bowers |
Carbon pollution |
Edgewater |
Maryland |
Transportation is now the largest source of climate disrupting carbon pollution in Maryland and across the country. Do something about this problem now. We need mass transit and not enlarging... read more Transportation is now the largest source of climate disrupting carbon pollution in Maryland and across the country. Do something about this problem now. We need mass transit and not enlarging highways in charge and fees. |
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