TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

This type of intiative in unconstituational in the state of Mass, and must be voted on by the state legislature. I strongly oppose this tax increase.

Over the past decade, the Northeast region of the United States has helped lead the country—and the world—in supporting and developing clean, renewable sources of electricity. Taken together, the policies of Northeast states, from Maine to Maryland, have generated billions of dollars in investment for solar, wind, and efficiency. One driving force behind this investment is a regional initiative that caps emissions from the electricity sector, charges power plants for the emissions they generate, and invests the revenue from those fees into efficiency and clean energy programs. This initiative has helped fundamentally change the region’s electricity sector: we have achieved unprecedented penetration of renewables, nearly eliminated the use of coal, and reduced overall electricity use at a time of economic expansion.
The next big step for the region is to bring that same sense of commitment, ingenuity, and purpose to clean transportation.
Transportation is the largest source of pollution in the Northeast region, comprising more than 40 percent of total regional global warming emissions (Georgetown Climate Center 2015). In addition to the health impacts associated with rising temperatures, soot and ground-level ozone from the region’s cars
and trucks are responsible for more than 50,000 asthma attacks, 1,000 deaths,
and other pollution-related illnesses that incur approximately $27 billion in total health care costs every year (Holmes-Gen and Barrett 2016). The health impacts of transportation affect all of us, but especially vulnerable are children, the elderly, the chronically ill, and people in low-income communities (who often live in or near freight corridors).
A growing number of people are choosing to live in neighborhoods where nearby amenities and public transportation can make car-free living more feasible. Above, the Boston Harborwalk, more than 40 miles long, connects the city’s waterfront neighborhoods. Forward-thinking policies can help the region adapt to growing populations and reduce dependence on personal vehicles.

Maine is a poor state, this added gas tax would unduly burden our most vulnerable citizens. The old on a fixed income. Why don't you live on 780. A month for awhile and tell yourself this tax isn't affecting you. You've never seen someone else's money you won't spend.
Climate initiative? Redistribute our meager Maine revenue is a more accurate description.

Transportation in Maine is the largest contributor to climate pollution. In our town energy audit, transportation contributed approximately 70% of the greenhouse gases emitted in our town. At the same time, traditional industries in Maine are being impacted by the changing climate. That will only accelerate in the future. However, Maine alone can't modernize our transportation system. It needs to be at least a regional initiative.

Unlike other more populous states we don't have the population density that supports mass transit outside of Portland and Lewiston. At the same time the average income is Maine is less than in other northeast states. Solutions that work in Maine will help inform approaches outside major cities in other states. Electric vehicles cost 1/3 as much to operate as gasoline powered ones. We need a way to solve the lower range and higher initial cost.

Seriously? Having been raised in Illinois I am not shocked by the tax increase. But at least there they have the decency to do it openly and not through some shady backroom deal shenanigans. Shame on our Allegedly Republican Governor for not opposing this vehemently.

I live in Mass for 45 years and I yet find any cause for anymore tax hike, Im a simple man working hard just to provide for my 4 kids and 5 grandchildren. And that was a job in itself, now its my turn to slow down and just work one job and the governor wants to tax me more its absurd half of young adult in this state don't work or can't work so its up to my generation to put into to city, state and federal tax and now you want more taxes very unfair. Never in my life have I worked in a job that pays me more than 42,000 a year how do you propose I live with this income and ontop of more taxes. Find another way.

As a citizen of coastal Maine, one the ocean's fastest warming seas,
(already affecting our lobstering industry), and at the "tailpipe" of the nation's carbon emitters, polluting our air, affecting our elder's and children's health, I strongly support a carbon fee and dividend plan like the Citizens Climate Lobby's proposal. It should start at a level to reduce in green-house gas within a relatively short period, 5-10 years, minimize the impact on lower income and rural households, and be based on actual facts.

Thank you for the opportunity to participate in the discussion on what I consider the most important issue if my lifetime. I so appreciate that this sounds like an honestly bipartisan effort.