TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

This will have a serious negative impact on our industry, including all of our employees and their families. Please do not adopt this policy!

I really believe we need to reduce pollution from transportation. I request that maine formally join the plan to reduce emissions. Please ensure that the policy includes strong component of equity by prioritizing clean investments in areas overburdened by pollution and/or for those who don't have access. I appreciate the bipartisan nature of this project, moving us forward while the federal government takes us backward

• World Fuel Services which employs over 200 people 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.
• World Fuel Services 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 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?
• World Fuel Services opposes the TCI plan to ration, tax and ultimately eliminate fossil fuels.

-We must reduce pollution from transportation: it is our largest source of global warming emissions at both the regional and national level.
-I request that Virginia formally join the plan to reduce emissions.
-Our policy must have a strong component of equity by prioritizing clean investments in areas overburdened by pollution, as well as for those who don't have access to clean investments.
-I am thankful for the bipartisan nature of this project. It is a positive move forward, at a time in which the Federal Government is unfortunately taking us backward.

We need the initiative to reduce traffic congestion in the state. Traffic jams occur on freeways in Hampton Roads during rush hours. The highway from DC to Richmond often gets backed up. More efficient public transportation would reduce traffic congestion.

I am against any gasoline tax increase in New Jersey to fight pollution and support electric vehicles and better public transit. The gasoline tax was increased in 2016 and 2018. The cost of living continues to increase in New Jersey. Working class and retired residents can't keep paying these tax increases. The only residents that can afford electric vehicles are high income residents. While electric vehicles do not use gasoline, fossil fuels are used to produce electricity. I also understand that the batteries used on electric vehicles are not environmentally friendly to dispose of.

This is going to raise gas prices and hurt Mainers.I oppose Governor Mills supporting the Transportation Climate Initiative as it is going to increase the price of gasoline and oil prices which in turn affects prices of transporting food and other goods. Mainers need tax relief and I am very disappointed in Governor Mills as she promised that taxes would not be increased yet she increased the state budget by $800 million.These electric vehicles do not purchase fuel and are not paying road use taxes that are imposed on road fuels. I don't think is a good idea to keep subsidizing electric vehicles. Why should we subsidize other peoples choices? Electric vehicles are not as enviromentaly friendly as most think. Batteries alone are expensive produce hazardous byproducts when manufactured. are hazardous and expensive to dispose of, and are a bigger hazard to first responders. We need to take in consideration the number of senior citizens, low income citizens and families that are already strapped with tax burdens.

We must make finding alternative means of transportation a high priority to limit the negative impact of private car and truck use.