TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

Since Maine is made. Up of largely rural areas. We don't have public transportation. We have a large senior citizens who live on social security. It is not unusual for seniors to travel 10 or more miles for medical appointments. Many residents travel 15 or more miles for work,and 10 or more miles for groceries. Are you going to put citizens out of work? Are you going to put seniors who will not get medical care because they cannot afford gas? How is putting a high tax on gas really going to help the Climate Initiative? Let's use common sense, and do not punish the people of Maine with additional taxes.

TCI is an important collaboration between eastern states to combat climate change. Some part of TCI revenue needs to be disbursed to EV infrastructure associated with affordable housing. It could be grants to afford housing developers for charging stations, grid tied or solar. There could be additional rebates toward EV purchases or leases for low income families; especially ones that are under served by public transportation or that live in affordable or low income housing.

Enough is enough. We live in Maine, salaries are not huge. You are supporting 2500 electric car owners on the backs of the other 1.3 million. Cut the citizens a break so we don't have to uproot from our homes.

We can not afford any additional taxes. The state, nation and world need to live within their means like the
averages person does. If you want to finance this than all who want it can take a pay cut to do it. I do not support this
and hope that it fails. Taxation is theft ! Tired of the government taking my money to squander .0

Maine can see significant economic, health, and environmental benefits by transitioning to cleaner and more efficient transportation options through adoption of Transportation Climate Initiative (TCI).

I strongly support it!

Clean transportation in Maine is a must. We're already the 'tailpipe of America', so we don't need to be adding to the pollution. Climate change is upon us and that alone should be enough for our government to act to protect us all. Get on it -- time is wasting.

This is an excellent proposal. I urge Vermont’s Governor Scott to support an aggressive program to fight the Climate Crisis

I appreciate the stakeholder engagement process of the TCI. I attended the public workshop held at Roxbury Community College, Boston, on October 30. My concerns are:
1)complementary state policies may be delayed or inhibited by the multistate TCI,
2) cap and invest alone will not change the consumption-culture driving habits,
3) evaluate promising or implemented greenhouse gas reduction programs, to vett pros/cons, to minimize unintended consequences and maximize effective reductions, payback, and public buy-in.
1) Massachusetts has pending legislation that puts a price on both transportation and heating fuels. H. 1726 bears consideration as a model that individual TCI states could adopt/adapt to fund green infrastructure and rebate equitably.
Massachusetts has fast-tracked gas pipeline infrastructure permitting even as leaking gas contributes 10% of state greenhouse gas emissions. The state's 2008 mandate to reduce GHG 80% below 1990 (25% by 2020) impels action toward a low to net-zero energy future. This lack of policy coordination and decision making needs focus, among different state and multistate entities.
Another complementary policy introduced in the state Senate is the Future Act S.1940, which pilots converting leaking gas infrastructure with a geothermal microgrid.
2) If producers profit more from low efficiency vehicles than non-luxury, high efficiency electric sedans, they push consumer choice to the former. Higher fuel prices then anger and derail public buy-in. The universally unpopular gas tax and ever-more popular large pickup truck are the result of how consumption is driven by producers. CAFE standards are needed for trucks.
3) continue the TCI stakeholder involvement and feedback process. Identify near and long-term win-wins for people and environment. Prioritize the least costly and healthiest alternatives - provide biking and walking trails everywhere!
Thank you!

This initiative brings hope for a regional collaboration to reduce harmful pollution and needless expense in the transportation sector. Please hear the voices of the people who believe in science and support local solutions to local challenges. We have the ability to forge new ways of getting people where they want and need to go, without destroying our environment or contributing financially to the producers of fossil fuels, most of whom do not reside in New England. We have the ability, now we need to have the will to do the groundwork and follow through.