TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

Governor Phil Scott please do all you can to support Vermont through this climate crisis we are in by backing your fellow Vermonters by signing off on TCI. Think of our child and our children’s children. Be the man to make a difference.

I am excited to see a high-impact, regional approach to tackling carbon emissions moving forward.

I have to breathe in black soot that covers everything outside now. I know carbon particulates in dense concentration can and does cause various cancers.

New York State politicians seem to not want to really support electric vehicles. They have been bought and paid for buy the fossil fuel automobile dealers. Here's why I believe this to be true. First, recent sales figures, nationally, indicate Tesla is selling 77% of battery electric vehicles. New York subsidized charging stations support the 23%, not the 77%. It seems to me that all viable vehicles should be supported by states subsidized charging stations. The argument that Tesla doesn't support existing standards is bogus, since there were no standards when Tesla started selling cars and providing a bare bones charging network. Second, the adoption of electric vehicles should be made as easy and convenient as possible. NYS should require NEMA 14-50 electrical outlets in the parking area of all new construction, especially single family homes with garages or driveways. A dedicated charging station should be acceptable as an alternative. Third, there should be no artificial barriers to the sale of electric vehicles. Placing restrictions on non-dealer sales clearly indicates the lack of commitment to improving the environment. If the current auto dealers offer a superior experience to people wanting to buy an electric vehicle, people would shop at the dealers. Currently indications are that fossil fuel auto dealers are not really prepared to sell electric vehicles. For the near future, and to enhance the adoption of electric vehicles, no artificial restrictions should be imposed on their sale. The prohibition of manufacturer owned sales outlets competing with their dealers should be continued for the sake of fairness. Fourth, I propose a very generous subsidy for electric vehicles that support "Vehicle to Grid" (V2G) capability. If you do the numbers, drawing 10 KW from 1 million electric vehicles when needed is equivalent to a 10 gigawatt battery backup. Ultimately, this should reduce or eliminate the need for utility scale battery backup, since the wind doesn't always blow and the sun doesn't always shine. Battery manufacturers probably oppose this capability since they will sell fewer utility scale battery systems. Once this technology is kick started by a generous subsidy for a few thousand cars, the capability will become common and useful.

I am a recent graduate now living and working in Massachusetts as an environmental educator. I have grown up with the climate crisis, watched as small steps towards sustainable planning practices and policies in our cities and regions have been taken while the much bigger sources of our pollution problems persist. The TCI is a positive step towards tackling those bigger problems. I understand that there are people who's financial situations may be negatively affected by this policy, especially those in poorer rural areas and/or those who drive to make a living. However, difficult as it may be, we as a region need to start accepting new ways of living in order to reduce GHG emissions that are harming our ecosystems and the health of vulnerable populations. The projections of the TCI have shown a reduction in pollution and illness and an increase in clean transportation options that will ultimately improve the lives of the people in this region. I would like to be able to breathe clean air in Massachusetts for generations to come. This initiative is a promising step towards that future.

This is a bipartisan (multi-partisan) multi state push to reduce fossil fuels in the region (and as a result, reduce greenhouse gas pollution).
This is the way to do it, en mass and in collaboration with our neighbors.
Of course it's sometimes hard to do the right thing, but I believe this region wide approach to drastically reduce the fossil fuels used in our transportation system is the way to do it.
I won't be able to attend the public hearing on TCI coming up in Manchester Center on January 30th but it is important that my voice is heard.
Now is the time to make commitments.
Thank you
Steven Stone

Many countries with less resources than the USA are able to clean up their act; hence, so can the USA.
I have four young grandchildren. I want to to have clean lungs and live a long life.

We need to focus on reducing pollution from transportation for climate sake, as well as to ensure our communities are livable. Maryland should formally join the plan to reduce emissions and should take important actions to ensure the protection of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Any transportation policy should prioritize clean investments and should assist those areas that don't have access to clean investments. I appreciate the bipartisan creation of this policy and stress the need for regions to move forward, especially at a time when our federal government seems to be reversing course.