1/3/2020 |
Andrew |
Chalnick |
South Burlington Resident |
South Burlington |
Vermont |
Scientists are screaming at the top of their lungs that we are in a crisis.
A sample of recent headlines:
“Climate change: Oceans running out of oxygen as temperatures... read more Scientists are screaming at the top of their lungs that we are in a crisis.
A sample of recent headlines:
“Climate change: Oceans running out of oxygen as temperatures rise”
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-50690995?fbclid=IwAR2Fl4Xz8w3zJXs_lN9Pk5RYzwRHZLAy6_s_E7Aqx6xjPIvrOEdkoaNTF70)
“U.N. chief warns of ‘point of no return’ on climate change”
https://www.politico.com/news/2019/12/01/climate-change-point-no-return-074610)
“In bleak report, U.N. says drastic action is only way to avoid worst effects of climate change”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2019/11/26/bleak-report-un-says-drastic-action-is-only-way-avoid-worst-impacts-climate-change/?fbclid=IwAR3uSyLx-bPcrIrc7CXYsJIiNkOATN6WV0LbqHhiegq0Z1Cjgzcg92B7waY)
“World Scientists’ Warning of a Climate Emergency”
https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/advance-article/doi/10.1093/biosci/biz088/5610806?fbclid=IwAR0VYvHA8g8GeRbrtbwsc7iqLIIeZAJxOO7Xrc8Gqe1Ahp-A7NveFHrT6Gg)
In the face of this, we must do everything possible to reduce fossil fuel use to avoid handing our children a dystopian future. Why must Vermont act when we are such a small state? Because climate change is a collective problem and collective problems can only be solved through collective action - if each small actor decides their contribution is not meaningful, no one will act.
Critical to the TCI is that it raises the price of fossil fuels for transportation - when things are more expensive people use less. There is no more efficient way to get people to use less fossil fuel and no more efficient way to transition the economy way from fossil fuels. This is the uniform conclusion of virtually every economist and every economic group, including the World Bank and the IMF. As the World Bank’s president said ”to our economists, who have been studying this for quite some time, there is an obvious consensus that putting a price on carbon pollution is by far the most powerful and efficient way to reduce emissions.”
However, key to an equitable and durable policy is to use at least some of the revenue to help the working people and the poor, especially in Vermont’s rural areas. This can be done through a targeted carbon dividend to those least able to afford increased fuel prices.
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2/4/2020 |
Deirdre |
Gill |
? |
South Burlington |
Vermont |
I would like to see an efficient rail system linking Burlington and Montpelier, Burlington and Montreal, and Burlington and Middlebury. Also, affordable efficient rail between Burlington and... read more I would like to see an efficient rail system linking Burlington and Montpelier, Burlington and Montreal, and Burlington and Middlebury. Also, affordable efficient rail between Burlington and Boston and NYC.
The traffic On Shelburne Rd. and Dorset Street is terrible. I would like to see more frequent and FREE bus service in Chittenden County that makes public transportation convenient and a good option for everyone.
Lastly, making bike lanes safe and apart from traffic is a must. |
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2/24/2020 |
Mark |
Gannett |
None |
South Burlington |
Vermont |
It is in Vermont's and the planet's best interest to join the Transportation and Climate Initiative. Number one: We need to do everything we can to slow down the warming of the planet... read more It is in Vermont's and the planet's best interest to join the Transportation and Climate Initiative. Number one: We need to do everything we can to slow down the warming of the planet for obvious reasons. Also, the only Vermont can recoup its investment in TCI is for us to join it. Please enroll Vermont in this initiative. Thank you.
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2/25/2020 |
Alice |
Barbera |
Contributor to Climate and Health Alliance |
South Burlington |
Vermont |
It's about time we support a bill like the TCI. Vermont's emissions have increased 16% above 1990 levels. Stop this now! read more It's about time we support a bill like the TCI. Vermont's emissions have increased 16% above 1990 levels. Stop this now! |
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2/25/2020 |
Alice |
Barbera |
Contributor to Climate and Health Alliance |
South Burlington |
Vermont |
It's about time we support a bill like the TCI. Vermont's emissions have increased 16% above 1990 levels. Stop this now! read more It's about time we support a bill like the TCI. Vermont's emissions have increased 16% above 1990 levels. Stop this now! |
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2/26/2020 |
Linus |
Leavens |
Citizen of the State of Vermont |
South Burlington |
Vermont |
Non-Profits, NGO’s, Trusts, & Foundations use “philanthropy” to secure political clout through campaign donations, & public policy through advocacy groups like the Conservation Law... read more Non-Profits, NGO’s, Trusts, & Foundations use “philanthropy” to secure political clout through campaign donations, & public policy through advocacy groups like the Conservation Law Foundation, the Nature Conservancy, and VPIRG, who receive significant support from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. TCI’s core funding comes from the same Rockefeller philanthropy, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, which is directly behind TCI, RGGI, in fact all the anti-carbon policy we are seeing in Vermont. The Manufactured Climate Crisis, the War on Fossil Fuels, the Climate Change Agenda, & the Monetization of Carbon are driven by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, the Rockefeller Family Fund, and Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. Wealthy Elites have pre-positioned their investments in carbon trading, carbon sequestration, railroads, & natural gas, while betting against coal & oil. TCI is the unconstitutional picking of winners & losers, inefficient Government Redistribution of Wealth, and Economic Death for the Working People of Vermont. Instead, we need to clear out the leeches who hold public office for self- emolument, & tax these “philanthropic” Foundations, Trusts, NGO's, & Non-Profits into the stone age, instead of adopting a punitive Interstate program designed to force compliance with standards that will have a dubious effect on the Earth's Climate on a Global Scale. |
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2/28/2020 |
Linda |
McGinnis |
Economist, Member Governor's Climate Action Commission, Concerned Citizen |
South Burlington |
Vermont |
For the past decade, I have been deeply involved in developing concrete policy and investment solutions to address climate change in Vermont in a manner that can both contribute to our economy and... read more For the past decade, I have been deeply involved in developing concrete policy and investment solutions to address climate change in Vermont in a manner that can both contribute to our economy and ensure affordability for its citizens. I am an economist with 30 years experience in this field (20 at the World Bank), a core member of Governor Scott's Climate Action Commission, a member of VCRD's Climate Economy Action Team, and a Senior Fellow at the Energy Action Network (advising on the recent publication of "Cap and Invest: A Review of Policy, Design, and Models and their applicability in Vermont").
I say all of this because I do not come to this recommendation lightly. The decision to join TCI is a big one and deserves careful consideration. Having studied this question extensively over the past several years, not only in Vermont but also in a number of other jurisdictions, I can say unequivocally that joining TCI is the most fundamental way for Vermont to make genuine progress in meeting our energy, climate, economic and affordability goals.
TCI presents a unique opportunity to focus on the single greatest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Vermont, and the one that keeps GROWING - transportation - in a way that builds on the success of our nation's first successful Cap and Invest program (RGGI - started under Jim Douglas), and in a way that generates the revenue needed to invest in clean transportation solutions that focus on those who need it most. RGGI allowed Vermont to join others in the region to focus on dramatically reducing BOTH greenhouse gas emissions (by 40%) in the electric sector while ALSO reducing consumer costs. 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. That is good for our environment, our economy AND for affordability. But it only covers the electric sector, which accounts for only about 10% of our overall GHG emissions. TCI would focus on the elephant in the room - our vehicles - which account for 44% of our emissions, and is growing rather than declining.
Importantly, by joining TCI, Vermont would not have to go it alone. Like RGGI, we would join others who have already committed to reducing their carbon pollution, thereby increasing the impact of emissions reduction AND the ability to generate revenue to invest in the systemic changes that need to occur in the transportation sector to improve access and electrification. In fact if we DO go it alone by NOT joining TCI, we would be putting ourselves in jeopardy by cutting off a substantial source of revenue that we desperately need to address fundamental issues of access and equity in transportation that we currently face.
Research shows that no jurisdiction (State, region, country) in the world has made the progress needed to reach significant GHG reductions without some form of either Cap and Invest or carbon pricing policy in place. By capping pollution, we can guarantee the pace at which our progress can be made, while allowing the participating entities to decide on their own how to reduce their emissions. When looking at successful examples of Cap and Invest in the US and Canada (e.g.,RGGI, California and Quebec), it is clear that each has demonstrated that a triple win is possible: reduced emissions, increased economic output (compared to non-participating jurisdictions) and revenue that can equitably accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy.
Finally, we all know that there are insufficient revenues available in our current budget to address the issues of access and equity in the transportation sector, and certainly not enough to electrify the sector at the pace needed to reach our climate goals. We continue to place our most vulnerable citizens - our children - on diesel-emitting schoolbuses every day, causing increasing levels of health issues and pollution. Our rural population has little to no access to public transit. Our low- and middle- income population cannot afford to switch to electric vehicles. TCI offers the possibility of generating additional revenues to address some of these critical issues while also reducing our collective climate pollution.
I am grateful for all the effort that Vermont has put into the discussions surrounding TCI so far. I am also grateful to the Scott administration for creating a Climate Action Commission which strongly recommended joining a Cap and Invest program for the energy sectors not yet covered by RGGI. Now is the time to act on all the important groundwork that has been laid. I urge Vermont to join others who are actually doing something concrete to make a difference for our future. We know this type of policy works. Please do it.
There is no doubt that climate change is the single biggest threat to our economy, to affordability, to our very survival. I notice the changes around me each and every day, and it breaks my heart to think of what we are leaving to our children. I hear them talking about how irresponsible it would be for them to bring children into this world, how they see the window closing in on them. We all know the time is short, and the time to act is now. So let's do it. |
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2/28/2020 |
Marcy |
Murray |
South Burlington Energy Committee |
South Burlington |
Vermont |
As a city energy committee volunteer and concerned citizen, I urge Vermont leaders to join the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI) instead of falling victim to short-term thinking.... read more As a city energy committee volunteer and concerned citizen, I urge Vermont leaders to join the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI) instead of falling victim to short-term thinking. Regarding the latter, I respect those who fear any initiative that could potentially increase the daily expenses of people who are already finding it hard to make ends meet. However, if we don’t fervently harness the state government to explore opportunities--such as TCI--to address the climate crisis, people with fewer resources will be the primary victims of the resulting economic, health and safety-related suffering over the medium- to long-term timeframe.
Joining TCI will enable Vermont officials to continue to help design the program in a way that can potentially minimize the short-term effects on people with low incomes by, for example, making sure that the subsequent investments made possible by the logic-based carbon-related revenue are sound.
TCI is the single most important climate policy that Vermont can support in 2020 to help address Vermont’s largest source of climate pollution, i.e., transportation-related emissions. In addition to building upon the success of RGGI (Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative), which was joined by Republican Governor Douglas, the collaborative TCI effort would align with Governor Scott's previously stated desire of not having Vermont act alone on climate issues.
Given that Vermont’s current climate-crisis-related plans, though positive, aren’t significant enough to address the scope of the climate problem, it is crucial that Vermont participate in the next phase of TCI and work collaboratively to harness the power inherent in this regional effort.
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2/28/2020 |
Sam |
Swanson |
Ascension Lutheran Church, Vermont Interfaith Power & Light, volunteer for So.Burlington Energy Committee |
South Burlington |
Vermont |
I recommend that Vermont join the Transportation Climate Initiative (TCI) that is being developed for states in this northeast region of our country.
We now know that climate... read more I recommend that Vermont join the Transportation Climate Initiative (TCI) that is being developed for states in this northeast region of our country.
We now know that climate emissions in Vermont have been increasing in the last two or three years despite a clear legislative and policy commitment to reduce these emissions. We also know that climate emissions from transportation account for the largest share of recent climate emission increases. We also know that transportation is an activity that may be addressed most effectively on multi-state, regional basis. And we have seen that the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative has proven to be an effective tool for reducing climate emissions from electricity generation.
I am a member of a church in South Burlington that sees the climate crisis as a moral crisis for all mankind and that we all have a responsibility to do what we can to reduce climate emissions. We have been at work for several years to walk our talk by reducing the climate emissions we contribute. Our church has with its own resources taken steps which, with help from Efficiency Vermont and Vermont Gas, enables us to reduce our carbon emissions associated with natural gas and electricity use by more than 50 percent. We want to address climate emissions from driving our personal vehicles but this requires support, just as Efficiency Vermont and Vermont Gas helped us with improving the energy performance of our church building and our individual home.
The TCI offers Vermont a potential source of revenues to support steps to reduce transportation emissions and to do so in way that will help most the people least able to afford newer, more fuel efficient, lower emission cars and trucks.
I ask that Vermont join in the emerging new TCI and to endorse actions by the TCI program that will help all Vermonters to reduce climate emissions resulting from our transportation activities.
It is now obvious that climate change is happening and causing very big impacts that include significant increases in annual rainfall in Vermont, warmer winters in Vermont which threaten the future of skiing in Vermont, accelerate the incidence of lime disease, and threaten the long term viability of our maple syrup industry. These impacts are the obvious ones that confront us in easy to observe ways. Scientists tell us that the Vermont forests, lakes, and wildlife communities are all being transformed by these changes in very negative ways.
It is also important to recognize that the TCI program can make big positive contributions to the State's economy. This has happened with energy efficiency activity, which is now a big Vermont employer, and the solar industry, which had until recently been a fast growing business in Vermont that provided jobs and produced income for Vermonters across the State. The Vermont Clean Energy Development Fund finances annual economic assessments of the clean energy sector and has with these annual studies has documented the large direct employment and income benefits of these clean energy businesses. The TCI can and should be harnessed to build upon this progress.
I urge that Vermont sign the TCI memorandum of understanding and commit the policy and program leadership needed to build an effective program. Such new programs require hard work to make them work and to avoid pitfalls. I plead for the Governor and the Legislature to do the hard work of negotiating an effective TCI program that will benefit Vermont and serve Vermont's stated commitment to achieving the Paris Climate Goals, which will benefit all mankind.
Thank you for this opportunity to comment.
Sam Swanson
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11/3/2019 |
Bill |
Mook |
Mook Sea Farms, Inc. |
South Bristol |
Maine |
I strongly support Maine's participation in TCI. As the owner of a shellfish farm on the coast of Maine I know firsthand how greenhouse gases are causing profound changes in the marine... read more I strongly support Maine's participation in TCI. As the owner of a shellfish farm on the coast of Maine I know firsthand how greenhouse gases are causing profound changes in the marine environment. These changes are already costing my business real money and threaten our future survival. We must all take responsibility for our role in degrading the environment. TCI can reduce greenhouse gas emissions just the way that RGGI has, while at the same time improving the health and resiliency of our economy. It is a no brainer. |
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12/1/2019 |
Daniel |
Picard |
Democrat |
South Boston |
Massachusetts |
The people of Massachusetts DO NOT want any more taxes on anything, especially gasoline. Wake up Gov. Baker or you will be voted out and maybe a real Republican can take over! The people of Massachusetts DO NOT want any more taxes on anything, especially gasoline. Wake up Gov. Baker or you will be voted out and maybe a real Republican can take over! |
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1/16/2020 |
Tara |
Kerr |
Ms |
South Boston |
Virginia |
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10/9/2019 |
Danny |
Emerson |
Taxpayer |
South Berwick |
Maine |
I am retired and on a fixed income. I do not support tax increases of any type on carbon fuels. I am retired and on a fixed income. I do not support tax increases of any type on carbon fuels. |
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10/9/2019 |
Barbara |
Dunham |
Tax payer |
South Berwick |
Maine |
Maine being a rural state, with many residents that are retired, and many Refugees, there is no way to have public transportation. Putting an additional tax on fuel for vehicles and heating is NOT... read more Maine being a rural state, with many residents that are retired, and many Refugees, there is no way to have public transportation. Putting an additional tax on fuel for vehicles and heating is NOT going to make a difference. The only difference is the amount of tax that is collected, that would not help the citizens of will only line the pockets of the state government. Please use common sense Govenor Mills and DO sign up for this horrible Transportation and Climate Initiative. |
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10/19/2019 |
Cheryl |
Fraunhofer |
Maine Citizen |
South Berwick |
Maine |
NO! Absolutely not! Governor Janet Mills, please stop doing things like this that will make it harder for people in Maine to survive. It may be the politically correct thing for you that will make... read more NO! Absolutely not! Governor Janet Mills, please stop doing things like this that will make it harder for people in Maine to survive. It may be the politically correct thing for you that will make you look good to your liberal lunatic supporters, but it is absolutely the wrong thing to do for all the normal citizens of Maine. We are a poor state as it is, and we need to have affordable oil and gas to heat our homes and to get around. You are just going to make the people of Maine poorer, while making yourself look good. It's a stupid and selfish thing to do. Please don't! |
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10/27/2019 |
Barbara |
Dunham |
Citizen |
South Berwick |
Maine |
Since Maine is made. Up of largely rural areas. We don't have public transportation. We have a large senior citizens who live on social security. It is not unusual for seniors to travel 10 or... read more Since Maine is made. Up of largely rural areas. We don't have public transportation. We have a large senior citizens who live on social security. It is not unusual for seniors to travel 10 or more miles for medical appointments. Many residents travel 15 or more miles for work,and 10 or more miles for groceries. Are you going to put citizens out of work? Are you going to put seniors who will not get medical care because they cannot afford gas? How is putting a high tax on gas really going to help the Climate Initiative? Let's use common sense, and do not punish the people of Maine with additional taxes. |
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10/29/2019 |
Arlene |
Lenzo |
Republican |
South Berwick |
Maine |
No increase to gas taxes No increase to gas taxes |
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10/29/2019 |
Lynette |
Aucoin |
Independent |
South Berwick |
Maine |
TCI is not a good fit for Maine. Most of our residents are hard working people already stretching to afford inexpensive used vehicles and will not be able to buy electric or hybrids. Add to that... read more TCI is not a good fit for Maine. Most of our residents are hard working people already stretching to afford inexpensive used vehicles and will not be able to buy electric or hybrids. Add to that the vast distances required in most of the state necessary to visit a doctor, get to school or work, even to get groceries and this makes zero sense - punishing hard working folks just for choosing to live in a rural area... often the only place they can actually find an affordable house. This is punishment to the core of the Maine way of life - the farmers, the fishermen and lobstermen, the forestry industry who depend on fossil fuels because their work requires it. Sometimes there are no electric alternatives for the task - rain or shine, in the middle of nowhere, where lives and earnings depend on the strength and reliability of fossil fuel engines. Governor Mills, stop punishing the hard working people of Maine with new taxes - we have enough already. No two ways about it - this is a tax serving an agenda and not the hard working everyday people of Maine. |
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11/1/2019 |
Brian |
Michaud |
Maine resident |
South Berwick |
Maine |
I oppose and fuel tax or regulation that Janet Mills is proposing for Maine residents, we need to reduce the current fuel tax for our businesses and residents, we need lower fuel taxes on our... read more I oppose and fuel tax or regulation that Janet Mills is proposing for Maine residents, we need to reduce the current fuel tax for our businesses and residents, we need lower fuel taxes on our heating oil, I am at poverty level and any legislation on fuel in Maine only deepens my level of poverty and confines me so I may not afford gas for my car, or fuel for my furnace... stop all fuel tax in Maine |
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12/17/2019 |
Danny |
Emerson |
Retired |
South Berwick |
Maine |
I don't appreciate your fuel tax increase one bit, just to appease out of state interests. Let's see how many leave this state with all this talk of tax increases everywhere you turn.... read more I don't appreciate your fuel tax increase one bit, just to appease out of state interests. Let's see how many leave this state with all this talk of tax increases everywhere you turn. |
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