TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

According to the IPCC report from 2018, human activities have already resulted in a 1°C rise in global temperatures. They estimate that we have at most 10 years to get our act together. And by “get our act together” I mean make thoughtful, definitive changes to make sure we have our best chance at a livable future. As a young adult who will be around for that future regardless, I urge you to sign on to the Transportation and Climate Initiative. I don’t feel the need to list off facts about why climate change is an issue or about how transportation is Vermont’s biggest contributor to greenhouse gases. You already know this. There is no longer a question of whether we need to do something to combat climate change, but rather, what should be done?
In human time, 10 years can seem like a lot, but in government, 10 years is not much time at all. As it is, the TCI will not be enacted until January 2022. The truth of the matter is that time is of the essence and TCI has great potential. Its formation and structure have many similarities to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, in which Vermont has had great success. Since 2008, Vermont has received $21.4 million from RGGI and has been able to turn this into $95 million in energy savings for its people. It has also allowed Vermont to avoid more than 200,000 tons of CO2 in emissions. RGGI has given Vermont experience with cap-and-invest programs in cooperation with other states so that TCI will not be some experiment, but rather a proven system for success.
There are areas of TCI, however, that still need more consideration and solidification. Based on the proposed system of fuel suppliers purchasing allowances in TCI, it is understood that this cost will be passed on to consumers through roughly an 8-10 cent increase in price per gallon of gasoline. Because this will in many ways act as a regressive tax, it is important to understand and mitigate the impact it will have on low-income individuals in Vermont, specifically those living in rural areas that rely more heavily on cars. This could come through priority status in receiving rebates or increased rebates on electric vehicle purchases. Another option to consider is reducing gas prices for individuals that fall below a certain income and live in areas where their cars are their main form of transportation. This could be done through methods similar to gas promotions that many companies run where an input of a code or a sliding of a card can take 4-5 cents off of the gas price. Ultimately, while there is a valid concern that TCI will put a strain on lower income Vermonters, environmental destruction caused by climate change will have a greater impact on these individuals as well. Because of this, it is important that we look out for each other not only in the short term by considering ways to reduce financial burdens, but also in the long run by implemented systems like TCI to reduce the emissions that would lead to greater environmental destruction.
Additionally, just as with RGGI and Vermont’s investment in Efficiency Vermont, it will be important that the state invests the money received from TCI in an effective manner. Because of the success of Efficiency Vermont, I have full confidence in the state to repeat this behavior, but urge the state to look into sustainable transportation beyond just electric vehicles. While EVs will most likely play a big part in reducing transportation-based emissions, it will also be important to improve public transportation and increase bike paths and accessibility as alternative methods to achieving Vermont’s goals.
The jurisdictions involved with TCI will be remembered as pioneers in the fight for our future. And cooperation within this region of America will serve as a valuable reminder to our country and the world that together, we can achieve more. I urge Vermont to sign on to the Transportation and Climate Initiative and be a part of a cleaner, brighter future.

Thank you for your time.

Bibliography:
Gillis, Justin. “Would You Pay Higher Gas Prices to Slow the Climate Crisis?” The New York Times, 26 Feb. 2020.
IPCC. “Summary for Policymakers.” Global Warming of 1.5°C. An IPCC Special Report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways, in the context of strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, sustainable development, and efforts to eradicate poverty. World Meteorological Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, 2018.
RGGI, Inc. “The Investment of RGGI Proceeds in 2017.” The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative: An Initiative of the New England and Mid-Atlantic States of the US, 2019.

The Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI) is an opportunity for Virginia and the Washington, DC metro region to reduce fossil fuel emissions and invest in clean transportation options including electric cars and buses, electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, EV purchase tax credits, sidewalks/bike lanes, and regional rail. I strongly support and urge Virginia to move forward with and join the TCI as well as require that the revenue generated by the program be used to expand clean transportation. There are simply too many cars on the road contributing to our warming climate and adding to air pollution related health problems including asthma rates.

Transportation is responsible for nearly half (46 percent) of Virginia's greenhouse gas emissions. If Virginians want to do our part to slow climate change, we definitely need to tackle transportation emissions. In many ways, transportation presents one of the greatest obstacles to tackling climate change, as well as one of the biggest opportunities to address some of Virginia’s challenges.

TCI takes a regional approach. Virginia’s transportation systems are intimately connected to Washington, D.C., Maryland and the entire region, so a real solution to transportation challenges must be regional as well. Additionally, as a coastal state Virginia is already experiencing the impact of climate change more than most—and scientists have made it clear that we must dramatically scale up efforts to reduce GHG emissions if we are to mitigate the worst impacts of a warming world.

We must act now to implement thoughtful and collaborative solutions like TCI that will help address the climate challenge while also driving investments in a clean transportation future. Virginia’s state leaders need to join with our neighbors and build a clean and efficient transportation system that we can all benefit from.

Vermont’s Participation in the Transportation and Climate Initiative Has the Potential to Improve Equity While Protecting the Planet

Coming off of the recent decision to pass the Global Warming Solutions Act, Vermont has the opportunity to further its environmental commitment by supporting the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI), a regional effort to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and improve sustainable transportation. The state must be a part of this undertaking, for the good of both the planet and its residents.
I chose to attend college in Vermont, over 3,000 miles from my home, because of the environment. I was not only drawn to the incredible natural beauty of the state, but also to the Environmental Studies program and Middlebury College. In my third year in the major, I’m spending a semester in an Engaged Community Practicum, thinking critically about public transit in the age of climate crisis. This perspective and sustained engagement with local stakeholders inform my understanding of the TCI, as does my childhood in an urban area where I depended on a (deeply flawed) public transit system.
The beauty of the TCI is that it takes the theories behind environmental justice and puts them into practice. The initiative holds the potential to provide incredible benefits to those who need them the most. The goal is to use a cap to reduce vehicle emissions (specifically on-road diesel and finished motor gasoline) and then invest the proceeds in measures to further reduce emissions and improve the quality and resilience of transportation. By targeting transportation, which contributes 43% of CO2 emissions in the TCI region, the program will combat climate change, which disproportionately impacts poor and marginalized groups.
The Draft Memorandum of Understanding for Stakeholder Input (MOU) highlights the program’s equity implications, pointing to increased accessibility and mobility as one key example. However, it must be acknowledged that the MOU is merely a sketch of what needs to become a much more robust plan. How exactly this outline is fleshed out has critical implications. When it comes to thinking about equity and the TCI, we must consider two dimensions: participation in process and distributive justice. Addressing these elements will alleviate most concerns about the TCI, but this has yet to be done sufficiently.
The Investments and Equity section of the MOU highlights the importance of thoughtful investment, of allowance proceeds, and of prioritizing transportation improvements for underserved communities. Significant concerns have been put forth about the potential for regressive effects of the TCI, and the writers of the MOU are right that proper investment can ensure that costs do not fall disproportionately on vulnerable groups. This is the case because Vermont’s low-income and aging populations share similar transportation obstacles, such as less access to personal vehicles. Therefore, investment in improved public transit options and pedestrian and cyclist safety will present benefits. Policy makers must make clear to the public exactly how they will invest proceeds in order to ensure that this program is progressive rather than regressive. In particular, this should include less emphasis on electric vehicles, which under the current investment scenario receive the largest share (30%). Rather than promoting infrastructures and ideologies centered around reliance on personal vehicles, the TCI must be more ambitious in investing in public transit. This is especially important considering the uncertainty around electric vehicle technology in rural, rugged landscapes.
It also must be clarified that distributional equity does not mean that benefits and burdens are evenly distributed across a population, but that those with the most constraints receive the most support. Furthermore, moving forward, policymakers must also demonstrate understanding of another core tenant of transportation equity, which is ensuring meaningful public involvement in the planning process.
Another key element regarding equity will be participation in the process. Policymakers must prioritize sustained public outreach to diverse demographics, and break down documents like the MOU in plain language to improve accessibility. Additionally, public transit programs and investments must be need-based, not demand-based. This may seem like semantics but the distinction means prioritizing justice and working towards accessibility by overcoming isolation.
Climate change demands rapid and expansive action to reduce emissions and adapt to exacerbated vulnerabilities. The scale of the TCI promises to do just that, harnessing technological and political tools already easily available. However, policymakers must sustain and expand upon their commitment to equity, proving to Vermonters and other residents in the region that the program will help rural, poor, and underserved communities.

TCI is a once in a generation opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and re-invest funds to much needed transit improvements, including safe and reliable public transportation, electric vehicle infrastructure, and "Complete Streets" for bikers and pedestrians. Unreliable transit is taking time residents should be spending at work or with their families. Please fight for TCI!

I urge my Maryland legislators to support the TCI as a part of our urgent response to the dangers of climate change.
I believe that the transportation sector offers tremendous opportunities to improve energy efficiency and vastly reduce
carbon emissions. In cooperation with the other states in the RGGI we can make a big difference.

Public transportation and state vehicle fleets can be converted to hybrid or electric power. Making public transportation more reliable
will encourage the public to use it and rely less on their personal vehicles. This can cut traffic on the roads and eliminate the need for new super highways and bridges.
It is time for us to strengthen the joint efforts of the RGGI, not restrict them.

I write asking you to take action so that the people of Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic states can gain the benefits of a free-market economy. Greenhouse gas pollution is an economic externality. When I chose to turn the key in my car I do so knowing that my decision to do so will not impose on me anywhere near the full cost of the decision I make. The costs of the pollution I create are borne in part by society as a whole rather than me. Such a subsidy prevents our society from enjoying the benefits of a free-market economy where by scarce resources (including pure air and a stable climate) are allocated efficiently and equitably. The option of a solution through regulation is both inefficient and ineffective. Let the invisible hand of the market work its' magic.

I support TCI because lesser fossil fuels coming into Rhode Island will mean cleaner air and better land use around the Port of Providence; tailpipe pollution is adding to asthma and heart disease and costing millions of dollars in extra healthcare costs; traffic congestion around downtown Providence is spewing pollution into the neighborhoods; cleaning up port operations will help clean up the air in Providence communities; public transportation will help reduce our traffic congestion and give me more time to other things, like study and be a better medical student and future doctor; cleaner vehicles will benefit us all; electric vehicles are better for the climate, our local environment, and our economy; better public transportation will help more people access more jobs and basic services; we all need more mobility options, and we should be able to get around our communities without needing to own a car.

As a 4th year medical student receiving a Public Health degree, I support TCI because climate change is real, it is occurring now, and it is having significant health and quality-of-life impacts on people both around the world and in my state. Fighting climate change is the right thing to do ethically and economically.

I support the TCI as an important and critically necessary measure to address greenhouse gas emissions from transportation.