TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, transportation emissions in the Northeast States have increased in the past decade and,
with it, increases in particulate matter pollution which is responsible for thousands of asthma attacks and preventable deaths annually.
Moreover, transportation emissions comprise nearly half of global warming emission in the Northeast. The TCI proposes to concentrate on promoting the transition to electric vehicles as a means to limiting the effects of fossil fuels on our air quality. Furthermore, it is imperative that we focus our attention cumulatively on the benefits of investing on fossil fuel-free forms of public transportation in order to limit the increased traffic congestion documented in many of our urban centers. Even in states such as CT in which population and commerce are said to be on the wane, increases in congestion have increasingly plagued motorists over the course of the past decade. I an support of the goal
of decreasing our reliance on fossil fueled vehicles (approximately 52B across the NE corridor) through such mechanisms as cap and invest and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative which is being phased in across the mid-Atlantic and NE regions with promising early returns in terms of reducing carbon emissions.

Hello,

I am writing to urge you and your colleagues to support the Transportation Climate Initiative. I'm sure you're aware of the benefits and the drawbacks of the plan, and I want to encourage you to think of the drawbacks as opportunities that, once overcome, will be a boon for all Vermonters and the planet as a whole.

I understand that the TCI could increase the cost of using fossil fuels for citizens. We should think of a way to keep that from hitting low income Vermonters as hard as it would wealthy Vermonters. I know Gov Scott is very considerate of allowing folks to save and keep their hard earned cash. But would it not be possible to work out a system where, IF Vermonter residents were to pay a bit more, that is was proportionate to ones income level? We shouldn't get hung up on "don't make people pay more" right now. That's a small problem compared to what we face with the climate crisis.

Vermont is already participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). This cap and invest program covers the electric sector in the Northeast, and it has proven very successful, reducing consumer costs and carbon pollution from the power sector by 40 percent. Then, Vermont has strategically invested the revenues raised from RGGI, directing the $2 million annually into weatherization programs that help Vermonters stop wasting energy and save money. We could use returns from the TCI to improve energy efficiency, weatherize more homes, improve our public/alternative transportation, etc. These aren't pie in the sky hypothetical outcomes - we can make truly positive change by simply pariticipating in this new initiative.

The price we pay up front to try and keep the world hospitable would most certainly yield a return - in terms of actual cash in our pockets and the assurance that our future generations have a safe place to live. When considering, please remember that there are also many supporters of investing in a greener present and future, and we will work with everyone to make it equitable for all. I happen to work for an organization that serves to reduce energy use for Vermonters, and we specifically work on solutions for low and moderate income folks. This is to say, even if we don't have a set idea how to keep prices as low as possible for Vermonters, we will think of a way. Any minor discomfort around money needs to be met with the acceptance that we MUST clean up our fossil fuel mess, even if there is no easy or cheap way of doing it effectively. But, reducing our consumption WILL save money over time, and is the undisputably right thing for us to do for ourselves and all of earth's inhabitants. Humans are responsible for climate change, and Vermont needs to try harder to change our course.

Thanks for your time. Best wishes for 2020.

Best,

Erin Moriarty
Winooski, VT

These taxes are so ridiculous and unnecessary Governor LePage managed to put away a lot of money for the state of Maine without any taxes. Governor Mills has chosen to waste all of that money that he put away so this stupidity needs to stop now.

The Transportation and Climate Initiative is an emerging issue, gaining traction up and down the East Coast. Now is the time for the region to take bold action to mitigate climate change and roll back emissions. The Transportation and Climate Initiative has potential to become the sixth largest economy in the world. This is not an opportunity we can pass up. While it's not legislation yet, it will have a huge impact on Connecticut's efforts to combat climate change and move our state into a modern, green economy.

The urgency of climate change necessitates that we make strong, positive choices now that mitigate the cumulative negative effects that are already here and will only get worse if we continue to operate in a fossil-fuel based transportation system. Creating a regional low-carbon transportation initiative in collaboration with neighboring states would provide much needed improved transportation in Maine. I support Maine working with neighboring states through TCI’s bipartisan, proven policy model.

I support the TCI, the Transportation Climate Initiative. Why?
Because transportation accounts for 54% of Maine’s climate-changing pollution.

So, let’s clean it up with the TCI, and keep Maine moving forward with a quick
transition to green and clean transportation.

Thank you for this opportunity to speak up!

Why has it taken this long to seriously consider this? It should’ve been done 20 years ago.

We can't afford a gas tax hike. How many times do we need to say this or are they hard of hearing. Stop bankrupting the people of Maine. We're not Mass. or Calif. We don't have a bunch of tech jobs that pay lots of money. We're hard working Maine people. But we don't need this crap!