TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

The TCI is a critical initiative that will demonstrate the regional leadership we need to actually tackle the climate crisis. I'm a student, and increasingly growing frustrated with government inaction or moderation. The TCI is the first step, and it needs both complimentary legislation and language that will support low income residents who may be affected by the TCI. Attached is a joint letter by orgs in Vermont that demonstrate the urgency of this bill.

Thanks!

Thank you for providing the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission and Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization with the opportunity to comment on the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI) Draft Memorandum of Understanding, and thank you for your continued leadership towards the development of a robust and equitable regional clean transportation policy. Please see attached for our comments on the MOU.

Please find the attached comments from the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which represents 99% of cars and light trucks sold in the U.S., tier-one original equipment suppliers, as well as technology and other automotive-related companies.

In summary, the Alliance for Automotive Innovation recommends that in order to accomplish the goals of the TCI, the program should:
• Establish consistent policies across regional and state lines
• Reduce the carbon intensity of liquid fuels
• Reduce the cost barrier with vehicle incentives for electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles
• Build out electric vehicle charging and hydrogen fueling infrastructure

TCI Comments 2.28.20
I believe that we are not doing enough to address climate change. Whether TCI will accomplish the intended results is very uncertain. For example, expecting electric vehicles to significantly reduce climate change gases [cgc] is not certain, since it depends on the energy source of the electric recharge, which is dependent on the time of the 24-hr day cycle. The most efficient recharge would come directly [I.e., direct current] from a solar panel. However, for various bureaucratic reasons this cannot be done.
Uncertainty is also caused by the fact that major fracking is occurring across the US, except the east coast itself and New England. This fracking is producing significant cgs, which are carried eastward, and northerly, by the predominant air flows. TCI will do nothing to address this problem from fracking, as well as the other problems from fracking.
Needed is a comprehensive model of how to address not only climate change but also create sustainability. This model has to demonstrate how the collective “we” can move society in a short period of time from a consumptive society to a sustainable one, with low carbon waste gases. It will address social and environmental justice, by moving each of us higher on the Maslow model, resulting in a culture that has a higher quality of life for all.

Attached please find Joint Comments from the Northeast Clean Energy Council, the Alliance for Clean Energy New York, and Renewable Energy Vermont

In these comments we outline TCI's program design and anticipated benefits before making four concrete recommendations to participating jurisdictions for consideration in the development of the final MOU.

Please see a letter attached from members of the Transit Caucus in the Maryland General Assembly.