TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

Material submitted through the TCI Public Input form from April 2019-February 2021 is viewable here. View input submitted from March 1, 2021 forward here. All material submitted on this page informed the participating jurisdictions in the 2019-2020 TCI regional policy design process. Click on the column headings to sort the submissions.

Date	First	Last	Affiliation	City	State	Input	File
1/16/2020	Ann	Rosenkranz	concerned resident	Vineyard Haven	Massachusetts	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! ... read more 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.	-
12/23/2019	Joel	Rosenfield	none	Wakefield	Rhode Island	If the government was actually competent they could balance the budget without new taxes. What will happen to the State of RI, when people leave because they cannot afford it; businesses close so... read more If the government was actually competent they could balance the budget without new taxes. What will happen to the State of RI, when people leave because they cannot afford it; businesses close so there'll be no jobs and our population diminishes to the point that the tax rolls cannot cover the operating budget of the State? RI will become a welfare State of the Federal Government and lose it's independence. DO YOUR JOB!	-
1/21/2020	Mimi	Rosenfeld	Concerned resident	Brooklyn	New York		-
2/21/2020	David	Rosenfeld	Mr	Brooklyn	New York	Transportation planning for the future should take into account environmental as well as societal considerations. Electric vehicles should begin to replace fossil fuel-reliant vehicles. Planning... read more Transportation planning for the future should take into account environmental as well as societal considerations. Electric vehicles should begin to replace fossil fuel-reliant vehicles. Planning should take into consideration both local and regional commuting and travel characteristics.	-
2/25/2020	John	Rosenblum	None	Calais	Vermont	Please Support the Transportation and Climate Initiative. TCI benefits can and should help make Vermont more affordable for Vermonters living on the margins. Please Support the Transportation and Climate Initiative. TCI benefits can and should help make Vermont more affordable for Vermonters living on the margins.	-
7/12/2019	Rich	Rosenberry	Citizen	Holliston	Massachusetts	We should have a price high enough to both offset the damage that GHGs cause and undo some of the damage already done. This has to be done equitably, taking into account low income and rural... read more We should have a price high enough to both offset the damage that GHGs cause and undo some of the damage already done. This has to be done equitably, taking into account low income and rural populations.	-
10/9/2019	Sandra	Rose	Republican	Madawaska	Maine	We in northern Maine cannot afford a gas price increase. Please do not sign this initiative. Thank you We in northern Maine cannot afford a gas price increase. Please do not sign this initiative. Thank you	-
1/17/2020	Robert	Rose	1965	NEW YORK	New York		-
2/13/2020	Elana	rose	Ms.	Sharon	Massachusetts	reduce emmissions!!! reduce emmissions!!!	-
2/26/2020	Michael	Rosa	None	Windsor	Connecticut	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... read more 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.	-
11/13/2019	STEPHEN	ROREM	CITIZEN OF MA	GARDNER	Massachusetts	I FIND THIS A TERRIBLE IDEA AND I WOULD LIKE ALL LEGISLATORS TO STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS HORRIBLE LEGISLATION. IF YOU WANT TO RAISE THE GAS TAX THEN HAVE THE LEGISLATURE VOTE ON IT IN PUBLIC SO ALL... read more I FIND THIS A TERRIBLE IDEA AND I WOULD LIKE ALL LEGISLATORS TO STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS HORRIBLE LEGISLATION. IF YOU WANT TO RAISE THE GAS TAX THEN HAVE THE LEGISLATURE VOTE ON IT IN PUBLIC SO ALL CITIZENS KNOW WHO VOTED TO RAISE THE GAS TAX.	-
1/17/2020	Peter	Roper	Mystic, CT resident.	Mystic	Connecticut	This sounds like a good plan. More efficient transportation makes sense. This sounds like a good plan. More efficient transportation makes sense.	-
1/19/2020	Sumner	Roper	Mr.	Nashua	New Hampshire		-
10/27/2019	Linda	Rooney	Independent	Bar Harbor	Maine	According to the United States Energy Information Administration, Maine ranks 45th for carbon dioxide emissions and releases approximately 0.3 percent of total carbon emissions in the United... read more According to the United States Energy Information Administration, Maine ranks 45th for carbon dioxide emissions and releases approximately 0.3 percent of total carbon emissions in the United States. Becoming carbon neutral in Maine would do little to curb climate change, aside from being a symbolic gesture.	-
11/12/2019	Richard	Rooney	Self employed	West Tisbury	Massachusetts	No!! Absolutely not! This is totally unconstitutional! ALL taxes must begin in the House of Representatives! I drive for a living in my real estate business. This will NEVER be supported by the... read more No!! Absolutely not! This is totally unconstitutional! ALL taxes must begin in the House of Representatives! I drive for a living in my real estate business. This will NEVER be supported by the public.	-
2/18/2020	Richard	Rooney	unenrolled	West Tisbury	Massachusetts	Dear Sirs, I strenuously object to the TCI proposal as it undermines our Constitutional protections against taxation without representation. Calling something a fee is a tax by... read more Dear Sirs, I strenuously object to the TCI proposal as it undermines our Constitutional protections against taxation without representation. Calling something a fee is a tax by another name. All tax proposals MUST be generated through the legislative process and our elected officials in the Legislature. The TCI proposal is an "end run" around the voters of this state who would otherwise reject this proposal. I urge a rejection of this unconstitutional proposal.	-
2/28/2020	James	Rooney	Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce	Boston	Massachusetts	Dear Governors of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States, I am writing on behalf of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce regarding the Draft Memorandum of Understanding of the... read more Dear Governors of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States, I am writing on behalf of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce regarding the Draft Memorandum of Understanding of the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI). The Chamber shares TCI’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector and supports the broad framework that has been proposed. Accordingly, our comments are intended to inform the development of the final TCI program design. The Chamber urges you to develop TCI so the region sees emissions reductions that are substantially lower than business-as-usual (BAU) projections, to include a secondary market for emissions allowance trading, and so that the program design does not include perverse incentives to maintain high emissions in order to preserve a revenue source. Projected Emissions Reductions To rationalize the development of TCI, it is imperative that the benefit of creating a new regional market on transportation emissions is significant enough to justify the cost, both real and administrative. The final TCI program design should result in emissions reductions that are substantially lower than BAU projections. The 2019 TCI modeling and sensitivity analysis project emissions reductions of 6% to 19% under a BAU scenario between 2022 and 2032. Meanwhile, the three proposed caps for the TCI program would result in emissions reductions for that time span of 20%, 22%, or 25%, including the anticipated BAU reductions. As structured, the program would result in a potentially minor reduction in emissions that may not make the cost increase seem worthwhile. Secondary Market The draft MOU briefly describes the monitoring of the proposed carbon market and the administration of allowance auctions; however, no reference is made to a secondary market for emission allowance trading outside of the auctions. Other market-based cap-and-invest programs, including the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), allow for trading of emissions allowances on a secondary market. The Chamber strongly urges the TCI framers to include a set of provisions in the final MOU and the model rule for a secondary market permitting the sale of emissions allowances among regulated entities and third parties. Including a secondary market in the TCI program is important for multiple reasons. First, a secondary market increases program flexibility by allowing regulated entities to purchase additional allowances to meet program obligations or to sell excess allowances. In addition, a secondary market provides the ability to sell or obtain allowances in between auctions, ensuring that allowances are liquid, and the carbon market remains stable. Finally, a secondary market will promote innovation among regulated entities by incentivizing firms to increase efficiency or upgrade technology in order to reduce emissions. Doing so will allow them to sell and profit from the unused allowances they purchased at auction. Program Integrity TCI is dependent on a declining cap for transportation emissions and the associated allowances that are auctioned to regulated entities. Because states’ allowance proceeds derive from these auctions, it is important that the final MOU and model rule account for the perverse incentive to maintain high emissions to sustain a revenue source. TCI proceeds can result in substantial and beneficial public investment but should not viewed as a permanent or increasing source of revenue. Thank you for your consideration. We urge you to continue working collectively as a regional coalition and look forward to assisting you as you develop the final iteration of TCI. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. Sincerely, James E. Rooney President and CEO	02-28-20 TCI Comment Letter.pdf
2/21/2020	Alexandra	Romito	Resident	Staten Island	New York	We need to expand public transportation to combat climate change and use less cars. We need to expand public transportation to combat climate change and use less cars.	-
2/13/2020	Gabriela	Romanow	MGH	Cambridge	Massachusetts	It is imperative that we move quickly to reduce fossil fuels. Increasing public transportation without increasing the price of ridership will help. It will also help in reducing the horrible... read more It is imperative that we move quickly to reduce fossil fuels. Increasing public transportation without increasing the price of ridership will help. It will also help in reducing the horrible traffic snarls threatening quality of life in our city. We should increase charging stations where gas stations now are, and we should put a tax on carbon. Thank you,	-
10/15/2020	Lynn	Roman	Resident of Montgomery County, PA 19004	Bala Cynwyd	Pennsylvania	Clean air is important to the health of all residents in this area as well as it is important to our global concerns for climate change issues. My comments support the recommendations of the... read more Clean air is important to the health of all residents in this area as well as it is important to our global concerns for climate change issues. My comments support the recommendations of the Clean Air Council for this policy decision: A cap on carbon emissions of at least 25% by 2032 An increase in the minimum investment in overburdened and underserved communities (>35%) Request that investments be put towards active transportation like better sidewalks, bicycle infrastructure, and high quality public transit These recommendations are based on Clean Air Council's research that... "According to a recently released study by Harvard and other institutions, if the program is designed appropriately, up to 1,100 lives can be saved annually, and the region could see $11 billion in health benefits each year."	-

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