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3/4/2020 |
Jesse |
Lytle |
Haverford College |
Narberth |
Pennsylvania |
Reducing pollution from transportation is a key component to reducing Pennsylvania's emissions.
Public transit investments made with TCI proceeds would support the mobility of our... read more Reducing pollution from transportation is a key component to reducing Pennsylvania's emissions.
Public transit investments made with TCI proceeds would support the mobility of our faculty, staff, and students around greater Philly and beyond.
We urge you to set an aggressive greenhouse gas reduction target that the most recent climate science tells us we need.
Metro Philly has an air quality of 'F' by the ALA, shortening lifespans for all residents and disproportionately hurting vulnerable populations. We need help stepping away from high-polluting transportation technologies. |
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3/4/2020 |
Patricia |
Ramsey |
retired |
Amherst |
Massachusetts |
The Transportation Climate Initiative (TCI) has many potential strengths -- in particular the fact that it will tackle carbon emissions on a regional basis. However, this bill must be a lot... read more The Transportation Climate Initiative (TCI) has many potential strengths -- in particular the fact that it will tackle carbon emissions on a regional basis. However, this bill must be a lot stronger. We are clearly in a climate emergency, and we need to take bold and wide-ranging actions now! As it now stands, about TCI is:
TOO LITTLE
1. The TCI does not address the carbon emissions generated by housing and heating. To be effective, it must be paired with other bills that cover these areas.
2. As proposed, TCI would reduce emissions from transportation 20-25% over 10 years. However, taking into account more efficient vehicles on the road by then, TCI would drop emissions only 1-6% beyond decreases in vehicle emissions expected by Governor Baker's administration. So not only is this “decrease” deceptive, it is nowhere near enough to prevent the worst impacts of the climate crisis.
3. The large emissions from jet fuel are not included in TCI.
TOO LATE
4. It will take several years before TCI will be implemented. Getting all the states to agree on terms and figuring out the logistics will be a long and complicated process. These negotiations will also involve a lot of compromise, so that the final plan may not have the stringent emission reductions that we need.
TOO VAGUE AND NOT EQUITABLE
5. The expenditure of TCI funds is not specified. Without clear, enforceable, and equitable policies, TCI will create a regressive gasoline tax that will hit moderate- and low-income and rural residents the hardest. The expenditures must be specified now – not left up to the governor or some future committee. TCI policy regulations in Massachusetts and other states should include the same equitable plans that are specified in the Benson Bill, H2810 in order to:
a. ensure that low- and moderate-income families and rural residents do not bear an unfair financial burden that they can ill afford;
b. support low-income communities to reduce their emissions and to strengthen their infrastructure in the face of the consequences of climate change.
We face devastating and irreversible effects of climate change! We are all in this together and cannot waste time “kicking the can down the road.” TCI has a lot of potential, but it must be paired with H2810 in order to be more ambitious, immediate, and equitable!!
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3/4/2020 |
Darlene |
Pawlik |
New Hampshire |
Raymond |
New Hampshire |
Additional, appointed governmental and unelected, non-governmental agencies are never the answer to innovation. Stifling policy created in board rooms cannot meet the actual needs of those in the... read more Additional, appointed governmental and unelected, non-governmental agencies are never the answer to innovation. Stifling policy created in board rooms cannot meet the actual needs of those in the field. They are the ones creating solutions to the problems they face working and serving their families, fellow citizens, and future generations. We don't need more taxes chocking energy creators, either. Let those imaginative, creators generate ideas without arbitrary constraints based on predictions that may never come to fruition. |
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3/4/2020 |
Amy |
Jones |
Affected Community Resident |
New Castle |
Delaware |
Involve the community in any decision-making processes FIRST! — and that the community will be the FIRST!
Agency goals should be to establish ways to talk more directly with... read more Involve the community in any decision-making processes FIRST! — and that the community will be the FIRST!
Agency goals should be to establish ways to talk more directly with environmental justice communities, which can be “co-opted” by outside groups pushing their own agendas. “We need to peel past that and really get to the communities themselves and make sure that they’re hearing us—and, as importantly or more importantly, we’re hearing them.” Garvin says individuals DNREC has interacted previously with on issues of environmental justice. The event was not promoted publicly, but that it is not a closed meeting.
Please stand up for fence-line communities in the TCI process in the Mid-Atlantic.
Why am I and others just hearing about this Policy in the community after the fact?
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3/5/2020 |
Eliza |
Caldwell |
CT resident |
Hamden |
Connecticut |
Please help us develop our local bus system and long distance train systems. I use the New Haven bus system, and while I appreciate it, more frequent buses and more routes would make buses... read more Please help us develop our local bus system and long distance train systems. I use the New Haven bus system, and while I appreciate it, more frequent buses and more routes would make buses more accessible to more people.
Fewer cars on the road would mean fewer wildlife deaths. Wildlife is already pushed to the brink by development, and their populations cannot handle more casualties.
More public transport would mean fewer car accidents, less carbon blown into the air, and a healthier population. People would be walking more and their mental and physical health would not be impacted by traffic or stressful driving conditions.
Please, use your decision making power to help us get more public transport that will improve our lives, animals' lives, and the environment. |
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3/5/2020 |
Harley |
Wooster |
Taxpayer |
EAST BURKE |
Vermont |
Transportation sector hydrocarbon reduction to date has been based on a lack of a mass-produced electric vehicles of the types people need. The lack of vehicles is not because no one wants the... read more Transportation sector hydrocarbon reduction to date has been based on a lack of a mass-produced electric vehicles of the types people need. The lack of vehicles is not because no one wants the vehicles or because the manufacturers do not want to produce them, but because the battery technology is still immature and the supply chains for mass-produced batteries and rare earth permanent magnets is early stage development. The cost-benefit for consumers even with tax incentives is not there because the vehicles are more expensive for less capability. All major manufacturers have announced $300 billion in electric vehicle manufacturing investments over the next few years with large scale production starting in 2021. That said it will take until 2030 for mass production to be fully realized. Consumers and businesses with a new ICE technology vehicle are not going to run out and buy a new electric car until their current ICE vehicle reaches its end of useful service (8-10 years). At that point consumers will have a choice and will make the choice based on the advantages of the future EV's, not because of TCI. TCI does not help us move forward only adds consumer costs. TCI does nothing to solve that and all rigorous studies show that it does not reduce hydrocarbon consumption, does nothing to enhance transportation sector electrification and adds no funding for desperately needed highway repairs.
https://ljfo.vermont.gov/assets/Uploads/a5e545b014/rap-carbon-management-VT-JFO-february-2019-updated.pdf
https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy18osti/71500.pdf
https://graphics.reuters.com/AUTOS-INVESTMENT-ELECTRIC/010081ZB3HD/index.html
https://www.iea.org/reports/global-ev-outlook-2019
https://www.jpmorgan.com/global/research/electric-vehicles
https://www.eei.org/resourcesandmedia/newsroom/Pages/Press%20Releaseshttps://www.eei.org/resourcesandmedia/newsroom/Pages/Press%20Releases/EEI%20Celebrates%201%20Million%20Electric%20Vehicles%20on%20U-S-%20Roads.aspx
https://www.iso-ne.com/static-assets/documents/2019/12/draft_2020_transpElectr_fx.pdf |
Vehicle Electrification.pptx |
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3/5/2020 |
Stan |
Franzeen |
Citizens' Climate Lobby, Salem Allliance for the Environment (SAFE) |
Salem |
Massachusetts |
Dear Governor Baker:
As a senior citizen on a fixed income, I am writing in support of the Transportation Climate Initiative currently under review.
Before I retired... read more Dear Governor Baker:
As a senior citizen on a fixed income, I am writing in support of the Transportation Climate Initiative currently under review.
Before I retired, I worked in transportation demand management, both as the executive director of a TMA, and as the commuter services contractor for Pfizer. In the latter role, I helped facilitate the implementation of an MBTA pass program to accompany the transition of Pfizer's Cambridge work force from Alewife to Kendall Square.
I am keenly aware of the role of transportation (vis-a-vis greenhouse gas emissions) in the climate crisis and am excited to see TCI come to fruition.
Hopefully, there is enough political will across the board to approve TCI and start planning as soon as possible.
Thank you. |
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3/5/2020 |
Sharon |
Netzley |
Independent |
Haverhill |
Massachusetts |
TCI attempts to bypass the democratic process by pushing through a tax increase without forcing the legislature to take a vote. I do NOT agree with any process that bypasses legislative procedure... read more TCI attempts to bypass the democratic process by pushing through a tax increase without forcing the legislature to take a vote. I do NOT agree with any process that bypasses legislative procedure. Our elected lawmakers should be debating and voting on these decisions. There can be no tax increase without a legislative vote. That would be the very definition of taxation without representation. NO TO TCI!!!
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3/5/2020 |
Bill |
Caudill |
PBI |
Mars |
Pennsylvania |
This Cap and Trade just penalizes the poor by not only increasing their heating costs and transportations costs but also their energy costs as a whole.
There was a town in Texas (... read more This Cap and Trade just penalizes the poor by not only increasing their heating costs and transportations costs but also their energy costs as a whole.
There was a town in Texas (Georgetown) that went to complete renewable energy and the residents electric bills went up to astronomical rates.
Our electric utilities are already wanting their rate payers to fund the cost of building EV charging stations when there are not many people who will use them. Electric cars create a carbon footprint also. There have been studies done.
As far as switching cars to electric you are just switching one form of carbon for another. Power companies are not grabbing lightning bolts out of the air for your electricity. The more electric used the more carbon they will produce. Renewable energy is not able to replace the amount of energy we use.
You would be far better off getting people to use public transit. Penalize people for driving huge non efficient vehicles. Invest in renewable energy to help supplement other sources of power.
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3/5/2020 |
arlene |
Mercurio |
concerned citizen |
New Kensington |
Pennsylvania |
Everyday another scientific article comes out stating how URGENT the climate crisis is - essentially the entire ecosystem is unraveling. Even if you do as much as you can as fast as you it, it... read more Everyday another scientific article comes out stating how URGENT the climate crisis is - essentially the entire ecosystem is unraveling. Even if you do as much as you can as fast as you it, it won't be enough - and yet, you must do your part to help mitigate the impending catastrophes until more aggressive policy steps are taken. |
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3/5/2020 |
Clem |
Dinsmore |
Climate & Energy Committee, Sierra Club DE chapter |
Wilmington |
Delaware |
My initial thoughts/questions are attached in the file upload. I welcome discussion of them. My initial thoughts/questions are attached in the file upload. I welcome discussion of them. |
QUESTIONS RETRANSPORTATION_0.pdf |
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3/5/2020 |
Nuno |
Cabral |
Independent |
Peabody |
Massachusetts |
Imposing a gas tax to help fund the fledgling MBTA is foolhardy and detrimental to families and tax payers of the commonwealth. The MBTA has been mismanaged and underperforming for decades. To... read more Imposing a gas tax to help fund the fledgling MBTA is foolhardy and detrimental to families and tax payers of the commonwealth. The MBTA has been mismanaged and underperforming for decades. To think that a gas tax will fix this is foolish. Voters will remember the names that voted in favor. The ballot box will show how we feel, and you all will no longer represent the working, tax paying families of the Commonwealth. |
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3/5/2020 |
Peter |
Sepulveda |
Waste management |
Kingston |
Massachusetts |
Raising taxes will just put more stress on people that are living paycheck to paycheck and will just be one step closer to turning into Los Angeles Raising taxes will just put more stress on people that are living paycheck to paycheck and will just be one step closer to turning into Los Angeles |
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3/5/2020 |
k |
danowski |
none |
pittsburgh |
Pennsylvania |
Transportation is the number one source of climate pollution in the United States. That means we must totally reimagine the way that we transport people and goods.
All of us must... read more Transportation is the number one source of climate pollution in the United States. That means we must totally reimagine the way that we transport people and goods.
All of us must ensure that any transportation plan is bold enough to cut harmful transportation pollution at the scale needed to avert the climate crisis. We need a plan that holds large transportation polluters accountable for the pollution they create and invests in clean transportation solutions including:
-- More public transit and electric vehicle infrastructure in rural areas
-- Expansion of commuter rail, electric vehicles, and streets in the suburbs that are safe, walkable, and bikeable
-- Sustainable and equitable housing near transit and electric bus fleets in urban communities
Please support this initiative to modern our transportation system.
Thank you. |
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3/6/2020 |
Mary |
Mainini |
None of your business |
Stow |
Massachusetts |
No more Taxes/Fees. No more Taxes/Fees. |
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3/6/2020 |
Jessica |
Noble |
Independent |
Maynard |
Massachusetts |
It troubles me that our legislature would attempt another tax increase in such a manner. I am strongly oppose another tax increase of any kind. It troubles me that our legislature would attempt another tax increase in such a manner. I am strongly oppose another tax increase of any kind. |
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3/6/2020 |
Margaret |
Haight |
Citizens Climate Lobby |
Hardwick |
Massachusetts |
We need this initiative. Rapid implementation and aggressive goals are critical, given that we have already delayed too long on reducing emissions at scale. Any fee/tax included needs to... read more We need this initiative. Rapid implementation and aggressive goals are critical, given that we have already delayed too long on reducing emissions at scale. Any fee/tax included needs to safeguard the impact on lower income households. Some type of dividend should be part of the equation. The challenge is to get agreement on a plan in short order, and that indicates an agreement with local discretion paired with strong accountability for results. The agreement should also include strong pressure for carbon pricing at the national level. |
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3/6/2020 |
EDWARD |
OLMSTEAD |
Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence Climate Action Group |
FLORENCE |
Massachusetts |
March 6, 2020
Testimony to TCI by Edward Olmstead
Thank you for your work on TCI to reduce emissions from the transportation sector. I strongly urge you to build on what you have so... read more March 6, 2020
Testimony to TCI by Edward Olmstead
Thank you for your work on TCI to reduce emissions from the transportation sector. I strongly urge you to build on what you have so far developed.
Our current status:
The efforts to head off the continued destabilization and disruption of the global climate is woefully inadequate. There are many forces actively opposing taking action to stabilize the global climate including our own President and his administration. You are in a position to make improvements to the TCI and urge other states to do the same. A multi-state effort like this could have a significant impact on carbon pollution.
The change is too little:
The current proposals to cut transportation emissions by between 20% and 25% includes an expected 19% drop that we on track for in the next ten years. I urge you to set emissions goals that would be 20% to 25% in addition to the expected 19% drop.
I urge a carbon fee and rebate to residents:
The Transportation Climate Initiative seems to assume a cap program instead of a fee program. I urge you to reconsider this. Fee programs are much less complicated than cap programs making them much less expensive to run, more predictable, much more flexible to design for effectiveness and transparency including fraud detection.
Residents of the Commonwealth need help to adjust to green transportation:
Policies must address equity regarding access to public transportation, cost-effectiveness of public transportation, traffic congestion and its effects, the reduction of transportation climate emissions and related health impacts, impacts on access to new jobs, access to greener transportation options, and access to greener automobile technologies. TCI must clearly articulate how equity will be created for those most burdened by the adaptation to green transportation. I urge direct investment in green infrastructure in low income and other disproportionately affected communities.
Clearly and specifically use funds for carbon pollution reduction:
I urge you to take a position that money from this initiative should be primarily used for projects that reduce CO2 pollution and only a small portion of it should be used for adaptation to
climate change. While adaptation is important, carbon dioxide reduction is what addresses the underlying cause of climate destabilization.
Please take this opportunity to strengthen TCI so that it creates a road forward where human activity is not the cause of continual climate and environmental disruption. We can be leaders in this state, but you hold the key to creating a response that is proportional to the problem and which solutions are proportional to the action needed.
Thank you,
Sincerely,
Edward Olmstead
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3/6/2020 |
Adam |
Winer |
Consumer Reports |
Washington |
District of Columbia |
Apologies for the late submission. The comments from Consumer Reports are provided at a file attachment. Thank you for the opportunity to comment, and for considering our input.
- Adam... read more Apologies for the late submission. The comments from Consumer Reports are provided at a file attachment. Thank you for the opportunity to comment, and for considering our input.
- Adam Winer, Consumer Reports |
Consumer Reports Comments on Draft TCI MOU.pdf |
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3/6/2020 |
Tarik |
Shahzad |
Middlebury College |
Chicago |
Illinois |
The time for action on climate change was yesterday. Despite the scientists sounding the alarms on rising temperatures, elected officials have routinely failed to act. Greenhouse gas emissions... read more The time for action on climate change was yesterday. Despite the scientists sounding the alarms on rising temperatures, elected officials have routinely failed to act. Greenhouse gas emissions must be tackled systemically for substantial reductions in output to occur. With consistent climate denialism emanating from the Trump administration, the onus is on state elected officials to enact bold prescriptions to this growing crisis. The onus is also on fellow citizens to pressure our representatives to make the correct decisions for us. I chose to attend Middlebury College because I believed Vermont is a national leader As an environmental policy major at Middlebury College, I have learned a great deal about the unprecedented attention this crisis requires; the Transportation Climate Initiative fits the mold for bold and sweeping action that the world desperately needs. The Global Warmings Solutions Act’s passing demonstrates the ability for this state to lead in the fight against climate change. Now, it is up to us on whether we continue moving forward on this issue.
The Transportation Climate Initiative’s declining emissions cap is a key step in reducing carbon dioxide emissions in the region, but the opponents of the bill routinely focus on the economic hindrances of the bill on low income Vermonters. In specific, they argue that increasing fuel prices would disproportionately impact their constituents. It appears the two sides are speaking past each other at times. On the third page of the Draft Memorandum of Understanding of the Transportation and Climate Initiative (MOU), the bill states that the benefits of a “cap-and-invest program flow equitably to communities that are undeserved by clean transportation alternatives… .” The bill sets the record straight; the goals outlined by the Transportation Climate Initiative ensures that lower income Vermonters will receive economic benefits through investments funded by the rise in fuel prices. It is designed to protect the most vulnerable citizens in the state. Moreover, if we fail to act with the looming threat of climate change, these same people will experience economic and environmental hardships. More extreme weather events, increased costs of food prices, and the degradation of the environment will impact underprivileged communities the hardest. Through a cap and invest system, revenue garnered from the program will supply the necessary mitigation reforms and economic subsidies for these vulnerable populations.
Opponents of the Transportation Climate Initiative must come to terms with the looming truth; if we don’t act now to protect poor and working-class Vermonters from the climate crisis, they will suffer in the long term. During this legislative cycle, elected officials will be choosing between two radical futures. In the radical future with the passage of the Transportation Climate Initiative, more Vermonters will economically benefit through subsidies, improved transportation services, and home weatherization. In the other radical future, in which the Transportation Climate Initiative is struck down by Phil Scott and the “economic pragmatists,” the most vulnerable in this state will have fewer amenities and tools to effectively combat the climate crisis. We are at a juncture in Vermont legislative history. The Global Warmings Solutions Act was a necessary step, and the Transportation Climate Initiative will build on the climate legislation that has preceded it. The passage of this bill balances on the eventual answer to these two questions: Will those who haven’t taken a side on this issue choose to fight the climate crisis with earnest? Will Governor Phil Scott side with the fossil fuel lobbyists or the most climate-vulnerable citizens of Vermont?
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