TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

Our transportation system in Maine’s is really outdated, and a huge source of climate pollution.

It's not enough for Maine residents, who deserve clean-energy affordable transportation options delivering economic, health, and climate benefits to local communitie

TCI’s bipartisan policy model seems to be effective and proven, so it would make sense for Maine to work with neighboring states using TCI’s model.

Thank you for your attention to this crucial issue,

Too much woodland has been destroyed to accommodate more and bigger roads. Too many cars are on the road and far too many single passenger vehicles because America has not made public transportation a priority. In Charlottesville, too many busses run only once an hour, making it impractical to use the bus system. The argument is that not enough people use the bus; if the buses were easy to use, many more people, like myself, would be happy to use them. Bus stops are also difficult to reach. The closest bus stops to my house are half a mile away, or more. I cannot reach two of them because it requires walking along a road with only a very narrow shoulder and no sidewalk. This should be a priority, not new and bigger roads, and more parking lots.

This seems like a plan that has some potential to make change in Vermont. I hope that it moves forward.

I look forward to better public and side walks and road conditions for public transportation, the ability to walk or bike to the belchertown court house, library, senior center, grocery store and. Town buildings. I look forward to incentives and education of preventing clear cutting and innovative controlled new building renovation laws with solar panel or new technologies for all government town and state building, new construction and renovations, protect all conservation areas and field and forests. Solor and new technology use over parking lots private and public and buildings. Protection of all wetlands and vernal pools. Dprotction of underground water.

On behalf of the Advanced Energy Economy Institute and its affiliate in New York State, the Alliance for Clean Energy New York, we are writing to express our general support for the Framework for a Draft Regional Policy Proposal that was released on October 1.

Before commenting on individual components of the framework, we would like to underscore the importance, timeliness, and wisdom of a multi-state initiative to tackle greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector. In New York, the recent passage of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Action demonstrates that New Yorkers are ready for action on climate change, including measures addressing transportation. In contrast to the electricity sector, emissions from transportation are on the rise and are making up a larger and larger percentage of state and regional greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, it is imperative that states take quick action to cap and gradually reduce these emissions.

Further, just like our states are connected by numerous roads and railways, our policies should be coordinated among states whenever possible, to maximize the beneficial impact and minimize unintended consequences. For this reason, we fully support the initiative for multiple states to work together to align policies.

Some further points:
-- We agree that equity is an important consideration of the Framework for a Draft Regional Policy Proposal. Including this perspective from the outset will lead to a stronger and more sustainable program.

-- At the present time, we believe it is correct to have the program apply to wholesale motor vehicle fuels that are delivered for use into a TCI jurisdiction or removed from storage in a TCI jurisdiction. This scope tackles an important emissions sector in a way that is efficient, targeted, and defined. It is appropriate to tackle the transportation sector independently. The electricity sector is already covered by RGGI and a suite of complementary policies, and the building heating sector, which does need to be addressed more affirmatively, will need a different set of complementary policies than the transportation sector. Further, the alternatives for the transportation sector are commercially available and ready to be phased in over time.

-- The emissions reporting, monitoring, and verification components of the framework also make sense; it is important to include these design elements early in the process.

-- Inclusion of a gradually declining cap is critical to the success of the program. It sends a clear market signal that can stimulate private investment in research, development, and deployment, which will lead to lower costs.

-- Finally, the reinvestment of proceeds is an absolutely critical component of this framework. Proceeds should be reinvested by states into transit and vehicle electrification. The importance of a long-term and enduring dedicated funding source for these initiatives cannot be overstated. It has been crucial to the success and progress on the electricity side in New York and elsewhere, and it needs to be created and maintained for the transportation sector as well.

Thank you for the opportunity to submit these comments in support of the Transportation Climate Initiative Framework for a Draft Regional Policy Proposal. We look forward to TCI continuing to request and reflect public comments as this regional policy evolves.

Respectfully submitted,
Anne Reynolds, Alliance for Clean Energy New York
Matt Stanberry, Advanced Energy Economy Institute

Please support the Transportation and Climate Initiative. It is crucial now, more than ever, for states to lead in climate action. We can't afford to wait for a new administration. We must join other states in solutions that work.

We feel it is horrible that you try to scam the citizens of Massachusetts by pushing a tax through without voter input. Massachusetts voted this tax down five years ago. The state does not need more taxes. We already pay high taxes in this state. This will hurt poor people. You people should be ashamed of yourselves. I hope everyone who is promoting this gets voted out of office.

I am strongly in favor this initiative. Most of Vermont's carbon emissions are from the transportation sector and there needs to be an investment to help us make the transition. This type of cap-and-invest program has been hugely successful elsewhere in North America, and I hope we can take this step in the Northeast. The data shows that places with a cap-and-invest program can have their economies grow while their carbon emissions decline. I'm grateful for the work of all those involved.

We are in a Climate Change Crisis so all our transportation and climate initiatives should reduce the factors contributing to Climate Change. Rather than building more roads, we need to concentrate on having greener public transportation that offers services to everyone- everywhere. This includes monorail expansions, electric cars and busses, recharging stations ( possibly electric rent a cars available that could be traded in and out at refueling stations ( akin to getting rested horses for the pony express and horse drawn carriages) Train services needs to increase in the DC, VA, MD area including more railcars and expanded hours in and out of major hubs.