TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

This is a letter from 147 Maryland LCV Supporters who signed a petition in support of TCI and the following: attached are their names and cities.

To Whom it May Concern:

I am a strong supporter of the The Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI), a collaboration of twelve states and D.C. that would cap transportation emissions and auction emissions allowances. This is a once in a generation opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and raise much needed revenue to modernize our transportation system on a regional scale.

As a Marylander, I thank Governor Hogan for his leadership in supporting TCI and request that Maryland formally join the program. We ask that leaders of the TCI choose the most aggressive greenhouse gas reduction targets- as current scientific studies show that we need.

We also urge that the policy prioritizes clean investments in all of Maryland's communities overburdened by pollution and for those who do not have access to transportation choices.

Thank you for your time,

Supporter

The TCI draft MOU and plan is ill-conceived and will negatively impact consumers and businesses as well as the larger economies of Maryland and Delaware. We believe the northeast governors should reject the MOU and disband the Initiative. The TCI plan structure:
• restricts the amount of gasoline and diesel that can be sold in the Northeast region
• imposes a tax on gasoline and diesel, and
• establishes a regional non-profit government entity to oversee the whole TCI Plan, including how billions of dollars in new tax revenue can be spent and how much gasoline a state can receive without penalty.

Restricting the amount of gasoline that can be sold is a bad idea.
The stakes are too high to give complete control over gasoline sales to a newly created non-profit entity that must juggle the competing concerns of 12 states. The TCI proposal leaves many questions unanswered. What happens when a state hits the allowed allotment of gasoline? Who determines if they can get more? Who will control the price? And more importantly, how will the political environment in the Northeast play into decisions? Will Maryland and Delaware be forced to adhere to policies from other states?

Consumers will pay more for gasoline.
The draft plan clearly anticipates $.05 - $.17 per gallon increase in gasoline prices, explaining that money will go to poor and marginalized communities for clean transportation projects. Today, those communities are most reliant on gas-powered vehicles because the transportation infrastructure has lagged. Electric vehicles are commonly purchased by affluent consumers. The per gallon increase set out by the plan will hit poor and rural communities hardest.

State road projects will suffer.
The draft plan requires states to follow rules developed by the newly created multistate non-profit as to how this new gasoline tax can be spent. So far, the initiatives set forth by the plan are suggested spending on bike lines and tax breaks to purchase electric vehicles. Electric vehicles don’t support maintenance of roads and bridges – the current gasoline taxes do.

Businesses will be burdened.
The draft proposal imposes a new regulatory and inspection scheme on thousands of businesses. And, as drafted, the proposal would subject Maryland and Delaware’s business owners to the whim of this newly created multistate entity and tax collector.

Maryland and Delaware’s economy will be hit hard.
It’s simple geography. Delaware and Maryland’s citizens and business owners are on the periphery of the Northeast region. The disadvantages of the cap, tax and spend program on gasoline may be diluted in northern states that are surrounded by other states in the compact. Our region is the southernmost tip of the participating states, meaning Maryland, Delaware and DC are most vulnerable to consumers and businesses choosing to go where they can find less expensive fuels.

This is absolutely unacceptable, ridiculous & something Maine people cannot afford. Shame on you Governor Mills for putting this state on the brink of bankruptcy & not working for the best interest of Mainers. Maine taxpayers are paying enough as it is.

It is vital that emission standards are not degraded within this region and across the nation. Europe has long held higher standards and the impact on air quality is well documented. The fossil fuel industry should not hold power over rational and safe standards for emission not should they remain the primary decision makers for investment in clean rapid transit. Forward looking measures in both of these areas will foster clean development and provide the basis for job growth in this Northeast region.

I am very concerned with environmental issues. I live frugally and with a keen eye to minimizing use of plastics and other waste. We are in a rural area of Maine where personal transportation is essential. There is no public transportation. Maine’s estimated $.17 per gallon increase in gas price, as well as increase in heating oil price, and likely propane as well, will be a critical hardship on middle and low income people.There is no alternative for us.

“In the public debate surrounding this program, especially in the media, confusion exists over whether regulated entities will pass the costs of purchasing allowances onto consumers who buy motor fuels. To be 100% clear, and eliminate any confusion, these costs, and the costs necessary to comply with this program by regulated entities (these costs) *will be reflected in retail motor fuel prices that consumers pay*.”

We must reduce greenhouse gas emissions as quickly and as much as possible. This should have happened a long time ago. At this point in time, we are facing a climate emergency.

This proposal is an outrage. Maine is the most rural state in New England and the vast majority of residents live outside the cities of Portland, Augusta, and Bangor. Mainers in the northern 2/3 of the state must commute much farther distances to work or shop than any one of the other states in this initiative. Furthermore, the proposed taxes will place Maine businesses at an unacceptable disadvantage, as costs for transportation and energy already far exceed those of the rest of New England. If Governor Janet Mills continues down this road she will face massive opposition from the residents of Maine. There is nothing in this plan which will benefit the people she was elected to represent.