2/17/2020 |
Cyril |
May |
Better World Magic, LLC |
New Haven |
Connecticut |
I encourage Connecticut to sign on to the TCI and to pursue the creation of an efficient, low/no carbon transportation infrastructure. I encourage Connecticut to sign on to the TCI and to pursue the creation of an efficient, low/no carbon transportation infrastructure. |
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2/26/2020 |
Wolfger |
Schneider |
Better not Bigger Vermont |
Charlotte |
Vermont |
I support the TCI but would suggest a few modifications/enhancements:
1. Do not exclude non-fossil fuels from the cap. Ethanol and biodiesel have a large CO2 production component from... read more I support the TCI but would suggest a few modifications/enhancements:
1. Do not exclude non-fossil fuels from the cap. Ethanol and biodiesel have a large CO2 production component from fossil fuels.
2. It is important to let the public know how the revenue will be used to be able to sell the TCI. The revenue should not be used only for changing our transportation modes. More CO2 reduction may be possible by supporting buttoning up lower income resident's houses for example. |
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10/28/2019 |
Quincy |
Longacre |
Better Home Heat Council of the Lehigh Valley |
Emmaus |
Pennsylvania |
To Whom It May Concern,
I am opposed to this proposal because it would unfairly burden consumers and businesses in Pennsylvania who already pay the highest gasoline taxes in the... read more To Whom It May Concern,
I am opposed to this proposal because it would unfairly burden consumers and businesses in Pennsylvania who already pay the highest gasoline taxes in the country.
Thank You,
Quincy Longacre |
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11/4/2019 |
Thomas |
Matuszko |
Berkshire Regional Planning Commission |
Pittsfield |
Massachusetts |
See attached file. See attached file. |
10. TCI Framework Comments-BRPC 11.04.19.pdf |
11/30/2020 |
Thomas |
Matuszko |
Berkshire Regional Planning Commission |
Pittsfield |
Massachusetts |
See attached letter See attached letter |
BRPC TCI Comments - 11.27.20 -Final.pdf |
11/4/2019 |
Logan |
Malik |
Berkshire Environmental Action Team |
Great Barrington |
Massachusetts |
To whom it may concern,
Please see the attached comments on the TCI Framework for a Draft for a Regional Policy from the Berkshire Environmental Action Team and No Fracked Gas in... read more To whom it may concern,
Please see the attached comments on the TCI Framework for a Draft for a Regional Policy from the Berkshire Environmental Action Team and No Fracked Gas in Mass.
Warm regards,
Logan Malik
Advocacy Coordinator, Berkshire Environmental Action Team
Program Director, No Fracked Gas in Mass |
TCI Framework for a Draft of Regional Policy Comments.pdf |
10/7/2020 |
Logan |
Malik |
Berkshire Environmental Action Team |
Pittsfield |
Massachusetts |
Please accept the comments in the file below. Please accept the comments in the file below. |
Comments for the TCI Framework Final MOU (1).pdf |
1/16/2020 |
Larry |
Seymour |
Benton Township, Lackawanna County, PA |
Benton Township |
Pennsylvania |
While I lack the expertise to suggest "the how", I urge that we collectively work for the reduction of emissions. The heavy truck traffic on the interstate highway passing along the... read more While I lack the expertise to suggest "the how", I urge that we collectively work for the reduction of emissions. The heavy truck traffic on the interstate highway passing along the eastern boundary of our township noticeably affects our air quality. Personally, it seems obvious to me that a large part of the solution must include the shift of an increasing percentage of goods, particularly those travelling long distances, from truck to rail.
Thank you both for your efforts and consideration of the needs of rural, as well as urban, populations. |
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2/8/2020 |
Bruce |
Lierman |
Bennington County Regional Commission |
Bennington |
Vermont |
Every living former Federal Reserve chair, dozens of Nobel laureates, and chief economists from both Democratic and Republican administrations, have all signed an open letter calling for taxes on... read more Every living former Federal Reserve chair, dozens of Nobel laureates, and chief economists from both Democratic and Republican administrations, have all signed an open letter calling for taxes on emissions of greenhouse gases. In my understanding, the Transportation and Climate Initiative's cap-and-invest strategy is an even more effective way to reduce the damage being caused to our economy and environment by our continued dependency on fossil fuels for transportation.
And why?
Because paying for the oil, and the subsidies we pay directly and indirectly to oil companies, costs us in Vermont over 2 Billion dollars a year that goes out of this economy. And the only return we get is in the form of earnings of stockholders in oil companies. If national averages on stock ownership are applied to Vermont, that means 80 percent of Vermonters get no return from the 649 Billion dollars we in the US have paid to oil companies in subsidies, to provide to us with a toxic product at an artificially low price.
One of the most common objections to the TCI is that it is seen as a regressive tax. If you're going to talk about regressive taxes, here is a regressive tax; the hidden taxes we all pay for fossil fuel production.
With TCI, we would at least be able to decide how the charges we add to fossil fuels can be progressively redistributed to help those most dependent on these fuels, those most impacted by their externalized costs.
As an economic issue, this is an action we can take to redress some of the absurd subsidies we pay to oil companies to pollute our air and soils, and to reverse Vermont’s dependency on these damaging products.
I share the caution expressed by some politicians concerning the explicit final details of the agreement. However, our response to these concerns must be to work now to make sure the agreement meets our energy goals. I urge our representatives in these discussions to stay engaged, and to focus on the highest objectives of the program, not short-term political expediency. The TCI represents our best opportunity to make real change and exert control over our energy future.
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12/24/2019 |
MICHAEL |
BENEVIDES |
BENEVIDES & TURANO, LLC |
WESTERLY |
Rhode Island |
Seriously? This is nothing but a money grab.
Will increase the velocity of our State going down the toilet. Seriously? This is nothing but a money grab.
Will increase the velocity of our State going down the toilet. |
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2/28/2020 |
Sunil |
Misra |
Behavioral Consultations |
Columbia |
Maryland |
Republicans hate God's creation. STOP letting auto standards decline. read more Republicans hate God's creation. STOP letting auto standards decline. |
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2/26/2020 |
Cathy & Barry |
Beck |
BCBeck Photography |
Benton |
Pennsylvania |
Please support the TCI (Transportation and Climate Initiative, which will set a cap on carbon emissions to reduce pollution from gas-guzzling cars, buses, and trucks. We feel it is very important... read more Please support the TCI (Transportation and Climate Initiative, which will set a cap on carbon emissions to reduce pollution from gas-guzzling cars, buses, and trucks. We feel it is very important for us to transition away from dirty fossil fuels while at the same time invest in clean reliable public transportation options. We need to clean up our air! |
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11/5/2019 |
Douglas |
Johnson |
Baystate Medical Center |
Springfield |
Massachusetts |
I attended the 11/4 session at Holyoke community college, and want to put some thoughts in writing.
Instead of emission caps and selling these to providers who would then pass the... read more I attended the 11/4 session at Holyoke community college, and want to put some thoughts in writing.
Instead of emission caps and selling these to providers who would then pass the cost on to consumers and create a whole unneeded bureaucracy, it makes much more sense for to raise the tax on gasoline throughout the region. Selling permits to cap emissions sets the stage for widespread abuse and huge profits to middle men rather than benefit the publi.
The Regional policy should provide an analysis of what level of gas/carbon tax would result in the desired reductions in green-house gases, and couple that with how the revenue would be used to improve public transportation, infrastructure, promote a green economy, and other public good in each state.
In addition, revenue from a carbon tax (at the Regional and federal level) could help support health care costs. The cost to consumers of a gas tax could be much less than the tax due to reduced demand leading to reduced pre-tax gas cost and thus reduced profits to oil producers.
There should be support for efforts at the federal level to markedly increase the gasoline tax and return funds to states to support infrastructure/public transportation/health care. Some of the funds could help transition our country to Medicare for all.
There should be a whole-hearted endorsement of supporting increased fuel efficiency standards including California's proposals, and stand against Trump and Republican efforts to raise the use of fossil fuels.
In 2008 I advocated the following and had my legislator Byron Rushing file a bill the raise the Massachusetts gas tax by 25 cents a gallon. "A tax on gasoline is among the best type of taxes - unless you are an oil producer. The tax is largely offset by reduced oil producer profits, so a $1 a gallon tax might only raise the pump price 25 or 50 cents. If the tax had been adopted last year, it likely would have lowered the pump price. By promoting energy conservation and alternative energy use, the tax helps address global warming and take into account the hidden cost of CO2 emissions. A lower crude oil price will reduce the cost of home heating oil. The tax would improve our national security by reducing our dependence on Middle Eastern oil. The tax would bolster the economy by keeping American dollars in the US, markedly reducing our foreign deficit, and stimulating "green" jobs. The tax could overnight help turn the bear market into one of optimism for the US economy.
With states in financial crisis, states should raise their gasoline tax by 50 cents a gallon. That would raise $1.5 billion a year in Massachusetts, and $2.8 billion a year in New York - which would cover most of the projected drop in revenue. Congress should raise the federal gasoline tax by $1 a gallon. The revenue from an increased gas tax could go a long way towards funding our upcoming national priorities - health care coverage for all, investments in education, and new energy sources."
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1/16/2020 |
Denise |
Potash |
Bayada |
Jim Thorpe |
Pennsylvania |
The future is public transportation! The future is public transportation! |
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10/25/2019 |
James H. |
Smith |
Bates College |
Hallowell |
Maine |
Maine should use TCI as an opportunity to invest in local transportation solutions that help Maine people get to where they need to go in an affordable way that’s good for our environment. We need... read more Maine should use TCI as an opportunity to invest in local transportation solutions that help Maine people get to where they need to go in an affordable way that’s good for our environment. We need to stop sending Maine money to oil companies; let’s reinvest our money into our communities and local clean energy.
James Smith |
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1/16/2020 |
terry |
king |
bard college |
MA |
Massachusetts |
low carbon transportation is mandatory low carbon transportation is mandatory |
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2/22/2020 |
Lawrence |
Connell |
Bank Information Center |
Arlington |
Virginia |
The growing evidence of the dangerous impacts of climate change in the United States and across the globe means that is in our own self-interest to follow through on the commitment now to... read more The growing evidence of the dangerous impacts of climate change in the United States and across the globe means that is in our own self-interest to follow through on the commitment now to implement a regional low-carbon transportation policy proposal that will cap and reduce carbon emissions from the combustion of transportation fuels through a cap-and-invest program or other pricing mechanism. This should work in tandem with Virginia's participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. |
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11/5/2019 |
Lisa |
McNeilly |
Baltimore Office of Sustainability |
Baltimore |
Maryland |
The Baltimore Office of Sustainability appreciates the opportunity to provide input and feedback on the framework for a draft regional policy proposal prepared by the Transportation Climate... read more The Baltimore Office of Sustainability appreciates the opportunity to provide input and feedback on the framework for a draft regional policy proposal prepared by the Transportation Climate Initiative. The City of Baltimore has committed to achieving reductions similar to goals set by the Paris agreement: 25 percent reduction by 2020 and 30 percent by 2025 (relative to 2007). Our most recent inventory showed that emissions have dropped by 15-20 percent, but more work still needs to be done to ensure that all residents are able to breathe cleaner air and face reduced risks of natural disasters. About 30 percent of our city’s greenhouse emissions come from the transportation sector.
Our 2019 Sustainability Plan lays out strategies and actions around climate change, transportation, and equity (among other topics), and is the basis for our comments:
Program Design Elements: Equity
• We applaud the emphasis on historic inequities in the development of programmatic outcomes. We recommend that a shared definition of equity be developed and included in the final framework, and that the framework also reflect how equity will also be included in the process moving forward. Will there be shared standards around community engagement and involvement as TCI is implemented and as decisions are made about investment of proceeds.
• The commitment to working with low-income communities, communities of color, and communities with limited mobility options (not just soliciting feedback from) should be strengthened.
• Seemingly absent from this framework is any discussion of how to make the impact of the TCI program less regressive, in terms of mitigating the impact on low-income individuals of the upward pressure on gasoline prices.
• Equity concerns are also central to the “additional program design elements” and more discussion of equity in these sections would improve the framwork and the eventual program.
Program Design Elements: Regulated Entities
• We would like to see clarification about the definition of a ‘supplier’ – will there be a minimum threshold of gallons sold? Is it expected that a City that dispenses fuel only to its own fleet vehicles would be a regulated entity?
• Will there be any industries or categories of entities that are exempted from regulation? If so, the process for determining these exemptions should be public and transparent and include an analysis of the impacts of these exemptions on the cost of the program.
Flexibility, Allowance Allocation, and Stringency
• We would like to see more information in the framework to address the possibility of leakage, or describing why this is not expected to be a problem.
• A risk that TCI is likely already considering is the potential for black market sales of product obtained in non-participant states. This represents a particular risk for poorer communities, insomuch as black market activities might concentrate in those areas.
• The TCI must also be considering border effects for fuel sales. Wealthier, more mobile individuals are more likely to be able to travel to non-regulated jurisdictions to obtain less expensive product.
Additional Program Design Elements: Investment of Proceeds
• We recommend that investment guidelines be jointly developed by member states. At a minimum, these guidelines should cover the process that each jurisdiction should use to get community input into decisions about how to invest proceeds. A preferred hierarchy or proportion of project types would also be beneficial. For example, should a set percentage of proceeds be used to mitigate or offset the impact on low-income households of any price increases?
• Similarly, a proactive emphasis on complementary policies would be valuable. For example, coordinated policy fora might be established to address complementary policies in the area of land use, infrastructure, etc.
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TCI Draft Framework comments Baltimore Office of Sustainability November 2019.pdf |
2/27/2020 |
Felicia |
Nordeen |
Baltimore City Worker and Commuter |
Baltimore |
Maryland |
We can cut poverty and pollution at the same time. We urge you to move forward with a regional program that prioritizes the needs of communities overburdened with pollution and underserved in... read more We can cut poverty and pollution at the same time. We urge you to move forward with a regional program that prioritizes the needs of communities overburdened with pollution and underserved in mobility options |
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1/16/2020 |
David |
DePrez |
Balanced ecology-minded citizen |
Orland |
Maine |
I taught environmental systems science to high school students for thirty years, with an emphasis on climate change. It is thus no accident that young people like Greta Thunberg are leading the... read more I taught environmental systems science to high school students for thirty years, with an emphasis on climate change. It is thus no accident that young people like Greta Thunberg are leading the public outcry regarding the impacts of rising temperature. They come prepared with a scientific literacy that includes an understanding of how interconnected are the world’s natural life-support systems that are balanced by means of negative feedback. Now unbalanced, the feedback is turning positive. For instance, heat means more forest fires, which dries out more trees, which burn more easily, which releases more carbon, which pushes global temperatures higher, which melts more ice, which exposes more of the Earth to sunlight, which warms the poles, which lowers the temperature gradient with the equator, which slows ocean currents and weather systems, which results in more extreme storms and longer droughts. It is also now clear that positive climate feedbacks are not limited to physics, but stretch to economics, politics and psychology. The Amazon, for instance, is turning into a savannah because the loss of forest is weakening rainfall, which makes harvests lower, which gives farmers an economic motivation to clear more land to make up for lost production, which means more fires and less rain. Fluid circulations that were locked into regular forms have started to “wobble,” like a toy top wobbling wildly as it slows. The result, for example, includes cold air spilling south in polar vortexes and disruptions of the normal patterns of deep-water currents distributing heat from hot to cold.
I am encouraged by your initiative to decongest greenhouse gas-emitting traffic corridors through a cooperative, bipartisan effort of state governorships like the one that tackled the pollution of the Great Lakes. You have my complete support for which I’m willing to pay with my tax dollars.
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