TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

This is not a good idea. Whether the money collected by this gas tax would go to climate improvement is suspect in my mind. I do not think this will decrease driving significantly and very much oppose this new tax.

We need a safe, clean and reliable train system in Maine. I would much prefer to ride on a train in order to go to Boston for medical and transportation connections than make the 5 hour drive to Boston. The same can be said for a trip to Portland or for even going to places like Quebec, Toronto, Buffalo, etc. Riding on the train would be much safer and pleasant than driving, using unnecessary gas and requiring much more infrastructure maintenance. Reducing the number of trucks by putting the trailers on a train would reduce fuel pollution, make the highways safer and reduce wear and tear of the roads.

This is a gas tax plain and simple. I drive 100 miles roundtrip to work and it would be a massive increase. I am a Republican because I believe in the constitution. This is unconstitutional. You plan on putting this through without a vote. I expect more from Republican state government. I’m not happy with an administration who keeps imposing their will on their will on voters

In my City of Portland, Maine, public transportation (bus) has already started its conversion to electric busses. There is no time to waste, such that everyone need follow our City's example. Please make conversion off of fossil fuels mandatory for every public transit offered.

The Transportation Climate Initiative sets out a framework that imposes an unfair burden on all vehicle owners and thousands of businesses.

I am opposed to the TCI plan as outlined: Capping sales of gasoline and diesel, requiring suppliers to purchase allowances in order to sell motor fuel, and having consumers pay higher prices at the pump in order to subsidize electric vehicles.

This proposal negatively impacts low income Vermonters, particularly those that live in rural areas of the state. It would only help those who are considering purchasing a new electric vehicle and/or those that live in urban areas with access to public transportation.

Furthermore, while some consumers may be able to choose public transportation or an electric car to avoid the increased cost in gasoline, there is no viable option for businesses that need diesel trucks. In Vermont, 25% of the motor fuel sold is diesel— and we need diesel trucks to haul milk, logs and other products that benefit our agricultural economy. Diesel is also sold with increasing blends of renewable biodiesel, which is critical for Vermont and the Northeast to meet our energy goals.

We ask you to slow down this process and consider taking diesel fuel out of TCI.

We must make finding alternative means of transportation a high priority to limit the negative impact of private car and truck use.

Of course reduction in GHG and related emissions is a worthwhile effort, however, I think this tax and trade policy will reduce the competitiveness of the states involved and result in more businesses moving from the area. Already many of these states are losing population and is jobs leave the area, residents will soon follow. This could have the impact of reducing GHG emissions by having less people on the highways, but the goal should not be to do anything to leave the states.

In addition I feel this does not address the high polluting older vehicles that are on the road by focusing on the GHGs. Technology could be developed to identify the extremely high polluting vehicles and getting them off the road. Perhaps high polluting vehicles could be targeted for purchase or removal from the states by some other method. Many times these are low MPG vehicles as well which results in more carbon generation than more efficient vehicles.

Lastly, the efforts to improve the traffic flow such as improved traffic light timing using developing AI could increase quality of life as well as reduce GHG emissions. This could be a technology that would bring high tech jobs and engineers to the area. Using other modern technology e.g. through Waze or other apps, employers could be enticed to stagger their employee commute to minimize traffic delays due to rush hour. The technology today lends itself much more today than in the time of the old Employee Trip Reduction Program. Besides flex hours, employers could be encouraged to let employees work from home.

In summary, I am against the GHG tax and trade program because I believe it will make these states an even less attractive place to establish a business.