TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

Continuing Advanced Biofuels USA comments: our proposal for a Disappearing Carbon Tax on the non-renewable portions of transportation fuel with proceeds prioritized to increasing the availability of cleaner, less polluting, less expensive renewable and bio-fuel in low income and high pollution areas.

I would like to submit a PowerPoint and text from Advanced Biofuels USA’s recent presentation about biofuels as the quickest way to reduce the greatest amount of greenhouse gases for the lowest expense at a presentation for the Nov19 Meeting of Maryland Commission on Climate They can be found at: https://advancedbiofuelsusa.info/advanced-biofuels-usas-presentation-to-marylands-commission-on-climate-change-mitigation-work-group-on-benefits-of-biofuels-in-climate-change-mitigation-plan/

I will also attach the files. Attached is the text that goes with the Power Point slides that were sent in a previous submission in this submission.

Essentially, these ideas address the 89% of vehicles in 2030 that, according to materials provided in the Draft Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan, will still require liquid fuels. It also addresses fueling vehicles that are passing through Maryland on major highways that will also require liquid fuels.

The following comments are on behalf of the Addison County Vermont Regional Planning Commission’s Transportation Advisory Committee to offer public input on the draft Transportation Climate Initiative (TCI) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for a regional program to establish a cap on global warming pollution from transportation fuels. We support the goal of limiting greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector, and offer the following comments to improve the draft MOU.

In apportioning the regional cap to TCI jurisdictions, the final MOU must take into account existing efforts to curb transportation related greenhouse gas emissions. For example, jurisdictions that already invest heavily in mass transit should not be penalized for prior investments that have reduced emissions.

Section 3 of the MOU discussing Investments and Equity lacks detail. The costs of the program are fairly clear, but the benefits, which should be spelled out in this section, are still vague. It will be extremely important in building political support for the MOU that constituents have a better idea of how the revenue raised will make an impact in their lives.

To that point, it is very important to our constituents that efforts be made to mitigate the impacts of the TCI on low-income populations in rural areas. In rural areas like Addison County, our poorest community members often live far from populations centers. In purchasing vehicles, they rely upon second-hand cars and trucks, and the availability of fuel-efficient vehicles at a low price point in that market is constrained. Some of the revenue raised by the TCI should go to assist this population in transitioning to low emission vehicles and to offset the economic hardship they will face when the cost of fuel increases.

The draft MOU lacks detail on how a Participating Jurisdiction would leave the TCI (Section 5B) and what would happen to allowances auctioned on their behalf. Would those allowances still be honored as in Section 2J – “Participating Jurisdictions shall accept allowances sold or originated in other Participating Jurisdictions”?

We thank you for the opportunity to comment on the draft MOU.

It is an urgent necessity that we reduce our impact on climate change, and a greener transportation sector is part of that.

I care about reducing pollution from transportation because it is our largest source of global warming emissions (regionally and nationally).
I am requesting that NY state formally joins the plan to reduce emissions.
I feel that 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.
Finally, thank you for the bipartisan nature of this project, moving us forward while the federal government takes us backward.

I request that your state formally join the plan to reduce emissions.

We have scientific data and long standing evidence of the damage that will be caused by allowing such an action to occur. One of the key roles of government is to preserve public safety. Willfully ignoring clear evidence of an impending catastrophe is a dereliction of duty. Scientists have worked for decades to assemble an incontrovertible body of evidence related to our changing climate, and ignoring that information is insidious. Future generations' resources, health and prosperity is dependent on us acting immediately, significantly and broadly.

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.

I am a jewelry designer and an activist, clean water and clean air is a human right. I have suffered from allergies my entire life, so it’s a health issue for me also. As a NY resident I’m imploring all of my NY representatives to please join the plan to reduce emissions.we must support policies with strong components of equity by prioritizing clean investments. I appreciate the bipartisan nature of this project. Please take a look at what is happening in Australia, living in DENIAL is no longer an option, a cleaner future is the only solution at this point. Let us not pretend and act like the mainstream media , the reality show bores me! The game is up!

Please find the attached letter from 21 participating organizations of the MA TCI Table. The letter includes recommendations from health, business, environmental, transportation, justice, academic, and planning organizations to ensure that the TCI program is both environmentally ambitious and equitable.

Thank you for your work to advance a clean, modern transportation system that works for all.

The attached comments on behalf of 172 organizations from across the 13 TCI jurisdictions state our support for an ambitious and equitable TCI program that includes strong safeguards and guarantees for overburdened and underserved communities.