5/28/2019 |
Liz |
Robberson |
Ms. |
Portsmouth |
Rhode Island |
My name is Liz Robberson, I live in Portsmouth, RI, I am an educator, mother and concerned citizen of our climate.
I am requesting that the policy have a price high enough to effectively... read more My name is Liz Robberson, I live in Portsmouth, RI, I am an educator, mother and concerned citizen of our climate.
I am requesting that the policy have a price high enough to effectively reduce emissions according to the latest science. Also that the policy have a strong component of social equity and doesn't hurt rural or low/moderate income people.
Thank you for the bipartisan nature of this project. |
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5/28/2019 |
Travis |
Petersen |
Citizen |
Medford |
Massachusetts |
Hello,
I am environmental scientist in Massachusetts. Thank you for your bipartisan efforts. Climate change is the most pressing issue of our era, one that impacts all aspects of... read more Hello,
I am environmental scientist in Massachusetts. Thank you for your bipartisan efforts. Climate change is the most pressing issue of our era, one that impacts all aspects of our life, including national security, immigration, and the economy. It has the potential to kill thousands of people, due to flooding, heat waves, crop failure, and increased disease prevalence. In the northeast, we have felt the effects already, with average winter temperatures up 3.8 degrees Fahrenheit since 1970. Winters are shorter; flowers and bees die due to early warm spells followed by frosts.
In your plan, I ask you to price carbon high enough to follow the guidelines set by the latest climate science. It also needs to be developed so that it does not impact low income members of society. We are all counting on you to account for the true cost of fossil fuel use.
Best,
Travis Petersen |
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5/28/2019 |
g |
h |
j |
g |
Pennsylvania |
We need to price carbon in transportation high so it causes big changes to our transportation. We also need to move all the federal and state money now funding the problem... like subsidies to oil... read more We need to price carbon in transportation high so it causes big changes to our transportation. We also need to move all the federal and state money now funding the problem... like subsidies to oil, building more new roads, expanding airports, etc. ... this money all needs to be moved to funding the solutions like high speed rail, metros, light rail, bicycles networks, bikeshare, etc. |
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5/28/2019 |
Ellen |
Williams |
citizen |
New Canaan |
Connecticut |
I have become a single issue voter concerned about the environment and the future of our beautiful and amazing planet. I am really encouraged to learn about the TCI and its bi-partisan nature. It... read more I have become a single issue voter concerned about the environment and the future of our beautiful and amazing planet. I am really encouraged to learn about the TCI and its bi-partisan nature. It staves off despair. I urge all decision-makers to put in place a price on carbon that is high enough to be effective and that has a social equity component so that the lowest income people don't get hurt. I much prefer a carbon fee and dividend return, which is a revenue neutral program that is market based and fair and effective. |
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5/28/2019 |
Margaret |
Haight |
private citizen |
Hardwick |
Massachusetts |
Thank you for this initiative to help combat the climate crisis. Aggressive action is required to change our market dynamics away from fossil fuels and to renewables. I support a price on carbon... read more Thank you for this initiative to help combat the climate crisis. Aggressive action is required to change our market dynamics away from fossil fuels and to renewables. I support a price on carbon that starts at a reasonable level but grows rapidly. The fees collected to be returned to households to cover increased costs during the transition; perhaps amount adjusted to protect lower income households. A dividend promotes public support. We don't have the luxury of time. I worry for the future of all of us, particularly young people. |
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5/28/2019 |
David |
Simons |
Citizen's Climate Lobby |
Lexington |
Massachusetts |
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... read more 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. |
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5/28/2019 |
Julia |
Plumb |
Citizens' Climate Lobby |
Belfast |
Maine |
Hello,
As a supporter of Citizens' Climate Lobby, I am thrilled to hear about this bipartisan effort to limit emissions by way of a carbon pricing scheme. As a woman in my... read more Hello,
As a supporter of Citizens' Climate Lobby, I am thrilled to hear about this bipartisan effort to limit emissions by way of a carbon pricing scheme. As a woman in my thirties, the climate crisis has a huge impact on my life. We are already feeling the effects of climate change in my coastal town, effects that are nothing in comparison with the effects of the sea-level rise we are already locked into thanks to current and past emissions. Climate change's impact on my local environment, on global food production, and world conflict and security issues, among other areas, stand to profoundly effect the rest of my life.
I encourage you to set carbon prices in line with what current science shows would effectively reduce emissions: setting initial rates high enough, increasing the rate over time, and building in a clause to increase prices at a faster rate if emissions reduction targets are not met.
The environmental and economic impacts of climate change already affect lower-income people disproportionately, particularly considering lower-income people consume at a lessor rate, generating fewer emissions. Please build in protections that will enable poorer households to stay afloat and themselves transition to lower-carbon ways of living.
Thank you for your work.
Julia Plumb |
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5/28/2019 |
Tom |
Rumpf |
community volunteer |
Brunswick |
Maine |
Thank you for trying to address the climate crisis in a bipartisan way by pricing carbon. I hope you will ensure that any carbon price is high enough to create sufficient incentive to reduce... read more Thank you for trying to address the climate crisis in a bipartisan way by pricing carbon. I hope you will ensure that any carbon price is high enough to create sufficient incentive to reduce carbon levels substantially, and that the policy will have a mechanism for minimizing impacts on low income folks.
Thanks. |
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5/28/2019 |
Clifford |
Strawitch |
Citizens Climate Lobby |
Ellicott City |
Maryland |
My name is Cliff Strawitch and I live in Ellicott City, Maryland. Having witnessed firsthand the devastation caused to historic downtown Ellicott City by two catastrophic floods in less than two... read more My name is Cliff Strawitch and I live in Ellicott City, Maryland. Having witnessed firsthand the devastation caused to historic downtown Ellicott City by two catastrophic floods in less than two years, which science tells us was made worse by climate change, I am highly motivated to demand action to reduce greenhouse gasses. The recent IPCC and National Climate Assessment reports on climate change make the urgency of such action clear. Since fossil fuel combustion by transportation is now the largest source of greenhouse gasses, action to reduce this source is essential.
Based on my readings, I believe the best way to reduce this source of greenhouse gasses is a tax on fossil fuels used for transportation. This carbon tax on fossil fuel combustion received the endorsement in the Wall Street Journal on January 17 of 3554 economists including 27 Nobel laureates, 15 former chairs of the Council of Economic Advisors and 2 former Secretaries of the US Department of the Treasury. This approach has been demonstrated in British Columbia (BC), Canada since 2008 to both be effective and politically popular. Figure 1{1} shows just how effective it was at reducing refined petroleum fuel use and therefore greenhouse gas emissions in BC as compared to the rest of Canada.
Figure 1: reduction is fuel use in BC as compared to the rest of Canada. The vertical line at 2008 marks the introduction of the fuel tax.
All the revenues generated by this tax were returned to the people as a reduction in other taxes. After some initial resistance, the tax became popular due to this tax reduction feature. Starting at $10 per ton of carbon dioxide, the tax rose $5 per year until 2012, and has remained at $30 per ton ever since.{1} The tax had no statistically significant impact on GDP, a testament to its ability to shield business and consumers. British Columbia’s GDP growth was on par with the rest of Canada from 2008-2011, actually performing slightly better than the rest of Canada by 0.1 percent. In addition, numerous studies, for example the REMI study{2} , show that this approach benefits the majority of families, including the most financially vulnerable, since they will receive more from this carbon dividend than they pay for increased fuel costs.
In his recent book{3}, Professor Gilbert Metcalf of Tufts University points out that a Cap and Trade approach often suffers from political and economic forces that tend to drive the value of a carbon permit for a ton of CO¬2 down to values that are simply too low to be effective at reducing greenhouse gas emissions as is the case with the current European Emission Trading System{3}. In addition, the price volatility caused by these same forces makes planning very difficult for corporations needing to purchase such permits. A carbon tax suffers from neither of these problems and is therefore in my opinion the best way to address greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector.
References
1. “Analyzing British Columbia’s Carbon Tax: by Wharton Public Policy Initiative, October 30, 2016, https://publicpolicy.wharton.upenn.edu/live/news/1520-analyzing-british-columbias-carbon-tax
2. The Economic, Climate, Fiscal, Power, and Demographic Impact of a National Fee-and-Dividend Carbon Tax”, Regional Economic Modeling Inc., June 9, 2014, https://citizensclimatelobby.org/remi-report/
3. “Paying for Pollution: Why a Carbon Tax is Good for America”, Gilbert E. Metcalf, Oxford University Press, 2019 |
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5/28/2019 |
Sean |
Dague |
Citizens Climate Lobby |
Poughkeepsie |
New York |
In order to have a meaningful impact on switching the transport sector to lower carbon options, we need a meaningful high price on carbon. This would create both consumer economic incentives, and... read more In order to have a meaningful impact on switching the transport sector to lower carbon options, we need a meaningful high price on carbon. This would create both consumer economic incentives, and spur private sector investment to make low and zero carbon options more available.
We must also ensure that policy doesn't overly burden lower income families. A system where carbon fees are recycled as household dividends is one approach to ensure social equity of the program. |
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5/28/2019 |
David |
Clark |
Citizens Climate Lobby |
Owings |
Maryland |
The Citizens Climate Lobby is a nonpartisan nonprofit volunteer advocacy group with over 500 grassroots chapters. CCL supports the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, H.R. 763, a market-... read more The Citizens Climate Lobby is a nonpartisan nonprofit volunteer advocacy group with over 500 grassroots chapters. CCL supports the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, H.R. 763, a market-based solution to climate change that encourages emissions reductions while helping the economy.
Please see:
https://citizensclimatelobby.org/energy-innovation-and-carbon-dividend-act/
for more information and how you can help.
“Most impressive is the work of Citizens’ Climate Lobby…If you want to join the fight to save the planet, to save creation for your grandchildren, there is no more effective step you could take than becoming an active member of this group.” ~ Dr. James Hansen, Climate Scientist, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center |
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5/28/2019 |
Renu |
Bostwick |
Mothers Out Front |
Bedford |
Massachusetts |
I live in Bedford, Massachusetts. I am an engineer, a mother of two almost grown daughters, and a former Girl Scout leader. I am now someone who spends every spare moment trying to combat climate... read more I live in Bedford, Massachusetts. I am an engineer, a mother of two almost grown daughters, and a former Girl Scout leader. I am now someone who spends every spare moment trying to combat climate change for the sake of my children and all children, because I am horrified that we as a society are allowing devastation to become the norm when there are alternatives! I am very grateful for the bipartisanship of the TCI. Any TCI policy would need to price carbon emissions high enough to effectively reduce emissions according to the latest science. In order to not cause social upheaval with high prices, the policy would also need to
have a strong component of social equity and should not hurt rural or low/moderate income people. We don't want to have a yellow vest situation on our hands as they did in France! Our children need us to be as bold as possible as we build the just and peaceful world they deserve! |
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5/29/2019 |
Judy |
Davis |
Citizens Climate Lobby |
Craftsbury Common |
Vermont |
Transportation and heating represent the bulk of Vermont’s carbon emissions. To reduce our use of fossil fuels most economists say we need a steadily rising carbon emissions fee (with revenue... read more Transportation and heating represent the bulk of Vermont’s carbon emissions. To reduce our use of fossil fuels most economists say we need a steadily rising carbon emissions fee (with revenue returned to households). Technology exists now that will allow us to electrify almost all our energy use, including transportation, heating, farming and industry. Most of Vermont”s electricity is already created from wind, water, and solar (and a little bit of cow power). A price signal plus additional incentives will encourage people to make a quick transition to an all-electric, all-renewables world. |
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5/29/2019 |
Madeleine |
Altmann |
None |
Bedford |
Massachusetts |
Please have a policy with a price high enough to effectively reduce emissions according to the latest science.
Please have a policy with a strong component of social equity and that doesn... read more Please have a policy with a price high enough to effectively reduce emissions according to the latest science.
Please have a policy with a strong component of social equity and that doesn't hurt rural or low/moderate income people.
Thank you for the bipartisan nature of this project. Government at work for the people! |
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5/29/2019 |
Parvathi |
Susarla |
Mother’s out front |
Bedford |
Massachusetts |
My name is Parvathi Susarla and I live in Bedford, MA. I request that the policy be priced high enough
To effectively reduce carbon emissions and have a strong social equity so that it... read more My name is Parvathi Susarla and I live in Bedford, MA. I request that the policy be priced high enough
To effectively reduce carbon emissions and have a strong social equity so that it does not hurt
Any low income families. I appreciate the bipartisan effort on this policy.
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5/29/2019 |
Sabrina |
Fu |
UMUC |
Ellicott City |
Maryland |
My name is Sabrina Fu and I live in Ellicott City, MD and work as a professor in Environmental Management for UMUC. I am well aware of what fossil fuels has done to our lands, waters, and... read more My name is Sabrina Fu and I live in Ellicott City, MD and work as a professor in Environmental Management for UMUC. I am well aware of what fossil fuels has done to our lands, waters, and atmosphere the past few hundred years. As a mother and concerned citizen, I spend a lot of volunteer time asking for policies to price pollution and use markets to quickly transition out of fossil fuels.
Please make sure that the policy has a price high enough to effectively reduce emissions rapidly and incorporate a society equity component to protect rural and low-income people from the increase in transportation prices.
Thank you for your bipartisan commitment in moving our transportation section into 21st century energy sources. |
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5/29/2019 |
Karl |
Kemnitzer |
Sierra Club Vermont chapter |
Hartland |
Vermont |
You are doing good work on the modeling, thanks! I have misgivings about one particular section- 8% growth in VMT per decade, and would ask you to review that part better. The citation ("... read more You are doing good work on the modeling, thanks! I have misgivings about one particular section- 8% growth in VMT per decade, and would ask you to review that part better. The citation ("state predictions") was pretty vague. Most reading I've seen report that VMT needs to decrease, via walk/bike/bus/rail or density, and surely some TCI returns will be spent on making this happen (much like your concerns for state EV incentives and ZEV mandates being a feed back loop affecting fleet makeup). You should probably include a mechanism for higher share prices to offset lower VMT to maintain level funding for state programs. |
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5/29/2019 |
Mary Rose |
Scozzafava |
Massachusetts Resident/Citizen |
Lexington |
Massachusetts |
To our concerned lawmakers,
I am a Massachusetts resident who has been closely following climate change issues over many years. I am a strong believer in the pricing of carbon to... read more To our concerned lawmakers,
I am a Massachusetts resident who has been closely following climate change issues over many years. I am a strong believer in the pricing of carbon to reflect its cost to our communities, our health and our economy. I applaud your efforts to develop a low-carbon transportation policy as an effective method to encourage innovative alternatives to fossil fuel in the transportation sector. To that end, it is critical that the policy include a price on carbon and that the price is high enough to effectively reduce emissions according to the latest science. However, I am also aware that past policies have sometimes unduly and unfairly burdened vulnerable communities. Therefore, I also support a policy that includes a strong component of social equity and that doesn't hurt rural or low/moderate income people.
Most importantly, I am thankful for the extraordinary effort of this group and of the bipartisan nature of the undertaking. It is a significant accomplishment in today's political climate to put aside party differences and come together to work on such an important issue.
Dr. Mary Rose Scozzafava
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5/29/2019 |
Dan |
Scholten |
First Religious Society, Unitarian Universalist |
Carlisle |
Massachusetts |
The climate crisis is the most important issue of our generation, so I have been working most of my life on this, to protect the future for my children and grandchildren. We need to put a price... read more The climate crisis is the most important issue of our generation, so I have been working most of my life on this, to protect the future for my children and grandchildren. We need to put a price on carbon through a carbon fee and dividend approach (call it a "green energy dividend"). This will provide incentives for clean energy, electric cars, and mass transit in a way that provides dividends to low income people that need it the most. I appreciate your bipartisan dedication to this issue. |
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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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