TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

Sadler Brothers Oil Company which employs 87 people and provides petroleum for other companies that employ hundreds of employees in Virginia is strongly opposed to the "framework for a draft regional policy proposal" which seeks to expropriate the petroleum marketing industry. Over time this plan proposes to move Virginia from simple rationing and new taxes to the ultimate prohibition of fossil fuels.
This plan does not assess the collateral damage it will inflict on state revenue, local tax collections, Virginia's Transportation Trust fund, and consumers.
Many of the advocates of these policies support regulation to electrify transportation. Those advocates somehow forget to mention that a major component of batteries powering these vehicles is cobalt, 90 percent of which is mined in third world countries under unfavorable working conditions.
As the number of electric vehicles grows, petroleum marketers will likely have to battle for a share of the electric vehicle charging market with utility companies that see EV charging as a new business opportunity without cost. When utility companies install charging stations, they may seek the ability to include that cost as part of their capital investment. When these costs are approved by governmental regulatory agencies, they can then be passed on to all ratepayers as part of their monthly electric bills.
Sadler Brothers Oil Company believes this would provide regulated utilities an unfair competitive advantage that Virginia based small businesses simply cannot compete with. I must economically justify and self-fund at risk investments in new equipment like EV charging stations and so should my competition.
Another likely competitor under this scheme is the state government itself. This is not a concept, as just this past session the General Assembly passed legislation to allow the Departments of Conservation and Recreation, General Services, and Transportation to install electric chargers. Fortunately our association was able to narrow this initiative considerably by limiting the number of state agencies involved and mitigating the threat of unfair competition by requiring the state to sell the power at prevailing market rates including taxes.
All Virginians, particularly the petroleum marketing and convenience industries, support a clean environment. There are many ways to achieve this without rationing. Incentivizing the sale of electric vehicles does nothing to meet your stated goals of "equity, environmental justice, and non-discrimination." As one example, the stated goals could be achieved far faster and cheaper via efforts to assist low-income Virginians to purchase more fuel efficient vehicles that meet current and future CAFÉ standards.
History has proven that rationing followed by prohibition - the ultimate goal of TCI - has led to black markets, unregulated and untaxed sales, and undue burdens on law enforcement.
The impact of these proposals will not be solely on fuel sellers and convenience stores - what about the auto repair industry, muffler shops, service facilities at new car dealers, quick lubes etc.? What about agriculture, construction, Loggers and watermen who will be forced to scrap present equipment or pay artificially high prices due to rationing? What about the consumer who will experience not only higher prices to operate their personal vehicles, but higher prices for consumer goods and services?
The impact of these proposals will completely devastate Virginia’s economics. Recent information predicts an alternative fuel source for Commercial Trucks are 15 to 20 years out, Trucking companies have utilized Virginia interstates I95, I85 and I81 for years which allowed the state and individual companies to benefit from them stopping and doing business on these popular travel routes. The proposals will cause most companies to route the trucks around the state devastating businesses.
Sadler Brothers Oil Company opposes the TCI plan to ration, tax and ultimately eliminate fossil fuels.

Being in the Technologies allows me to be in direct contact with many in the Science Community. As far as I have learned, there is no climate issue presently, except for evidence leaning toward a cooling climate due to an present and oncoming solar minimum. Your carbon concerns are your own and not validated by evidence. I refuse to have my hard-earned money be wasted by such blatantly political and frivolous projects. Most of the People I know are also not fooled by your un-scientific claims. Do not even try to tax We the People for any more of your unproven hypotheses. There is a growing intolerance for such foolishness. If you want to waste your time and money on your pet projects, feel free to solicit voluntary donations to your cause. forget about trying to tax us for them. If you do, you do at your own peril. We are looking at such behavior as extortion, and robbery. Keep that in mind . . .

This is another tax for something I do not use. Plus it is unlikely to be used in it's entirety for the intended purpose.
Please no more taxes.

I urge Vermont and Governor Scott to join TCI now. It makes no sense NOT to join it!
John Emerson

This is nothing but a tax on the poorest amongst us. This is not the way to fix climate change. Free market solutions are a day better long term solution that will not harm the population.

I am against Massachusetts entering into this agreement without a vote of the legislature. This is a gas tax, pure and simple, that they’ll be able to impose on drivers — particularly commuters— without never recording a vote. I suspect this is considered a “feature” by legislators from other states considering joining the TCI.

A tax is a tax no matter how it’s disguised. Trying to slide this thru or past the voters in Massachusetts without those voters having a say at the ballot box should not be allowed, put it to a vote and let the voters decide.

DO NOT IMPLEMENT TCI, IT IS THEFT OF TAX $ FROM HARD WORKING N.H.RESIDENTS. HOME OWNERS IN N.H.ARE ALREADY THE N.H.ATM, DO NOT HIT US HARDER.

No more gas taxes no matter what they want to call them. Carbon foot prints come from people who fly and have pleasure boats not the working POOR. Governors are not Kings or Dictator and need to stop behaving that way.