TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

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. Your actions and inactions regarding this and all related concerns have been, are being and will be remembered by all of us who will live in the world that you are shaping with your decisions right now, in addition to being a matter of public record. We are all on it together. Environmental emergencies affect everybody, and will do so for generations to come. All other issues need to be considered as facets of the critical state of the biosphere.

I strongly support the Transportation and Climate Initiative policy. I’m proud to live in a state that is taking appropriate steps to tackle the climate crisis, and I think that initiatives such as this one will provide for a healthy and prosperous future for those living in the targeted areas. I live in an area that is growing exponentially, and this growth has had, and will continue to have, its costs. My children’s school is less than a mile from home but we have to drive, instead of walk or cycle, because there are no adequate sidewalks or bike lanes. With increasing traffic in the area my family would love to be part of the solution and be one less vehicle on the road. The environmental benefits to this policy I think are obvious but the health benefits maybe not so much unless you or someone you know suffers from breathing problems. I have asthma and there is no doubt that my asthma attacks are increasing in frequency and severity. Knowing that there could be multiple causes for this increase that fact is air pollution has been shown to be one of those causes, and air pollution is something that we can control via policies such as the TCI policy. I want my children to have the same opportunities that I had growing up, but I fear climate change is going to make that very unlikely. For our children and their children and so on, let’s do what we can to ensure they can get to school, work, etc. safely and with as little impact on their one and only home as possible.

We need a strong emissions reduction policy to swiftly reduce our carbon footprint in an attempt to reverse global warming within the next 10 years to a 50% reduction and by 100% by 2050!
Transportation is responsible for 40% of our carbon emissions in the Northeast. Therefore, I request that Massachusetts formally join the plan to reduce emissions in the transportation sector thereby showing a strong commitment to be a leader in fighting global warming. We need investments in clean public transportation, new technologies such as electric cars, trucks, buses, trains and ferries, and a cap and invest policy to incentivize industry to move away from the polluting of our air and water and the warming of our atmosphere caused by CO2 emissions.
Furthermore, I urge you to make sure that any policy formulated will have a strong component of equity by prioritizing CLEAN investments in areas overburdened by pollution as well as prioritizing protection and inclusion for those who do not have access.
I commend the bipartisan nature of this project, with both parties taking the initiative to move us forward on a local basis as a region while the federal government proceeds in the opposite direction with more harvesting, transporting and burning of fossil fuels, including coal, oil, nuclear and gas. We need to do this and we can, with or without federal cooperation and support.

I really believe we need to reduce pollution from transportation. I request that maine formally join the plan to reduce emissions. Please ensure that the policy includes strong component of equity by prioritizing clean investments in areas overburdened by pollution and/or for those who don't have access. I appreciate the bipartisan nature of this project, moving us forward while the federal government takes us backward

Virginia should join TCI to fund better transportation infrastructure and reduce traffic. Our communities should all enjoy the benefits of cleaner air from reduced reliance on fossil fuels. Urgency in this transition will help educate the public on the climate crisis.

Our company has been in business for over 73 years and is a supplier of both propane and petroleum products. We support efforts for a cleaner environment but it must be with a balanced approach to be both effective and affordable. Electricity is not the answer to it all. As you know, there have been great strides in both gasoline and diesel technologies. Propane is a clean fuel, is readily available in the United States, and can effectively and economically provide energy today in a number of key areas.

We need more regulations to assist in attaining clean Air. We lived in Southern Calif when if you went into LA your eyes burned save it was so skinny you couldn't see much. Then they cleaned up that air. Car manufacturers want less polluting cars because their customers want that. Future generations will look back and judge the polluters who are ruining our earth for their own monetary profits.

This new proposed gas tax or 'fee' will have a significant cost impact to the people of Maine without a reasonable return. This life-long (so far) Mainer recommends no to this regressive tax.