TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

Global climate change is very real.

As an older person, as someone with a formal biology background, and as someone who spends a lot of time outdoors, I see the impacts of these changes all around me - even here in relatively safe Pennsylvania. And, as an older person, I still feel a deep sense of disgust at the tobacco industry's infamous tactic of muddying the waters over the obvious health impacts of smoking in order to protect profits for as long as possible, while ignoring the very real and very devastating impacts on millions of individuals and families. Climate change has seen the very same approach by the fossil fuel industry for the same reasons, and our politicians, once again, have, whether enthusiastically or tacitly, gone along with these blatant lies, accepting the very real consequences that too many are experiencing firsthand.

Transportation is one of the major sources of harmful emissions pushing climate change. Transportation is also an excellent way for multiple states along with politicians of all stripes, scientists, and civic planners to find creative, effective ways to reduce these emissions. It is also important to recognize that waste products, which these emissions are, are costly to produce. Creatively reducing waste can reduce costs.

Having Pennsylvania join this effort and reap its benefits would be wonderful, so I trust our officials will take a leadership position in bringing this to fruition. As a state (commonwealth), we should have policies that emphasize and prioritize investments in clean and sustainable energy alternatives. And we should prioritize clean, sustainable, cost-effective mass transit across the entire state - something we desperately need.

By contrast, ignoring science, and ignoring the potential economic benefits, the Trump Administration has aggressively moved the United States backwards in the clean energy pursuit. The idea that states will work together to equally aggressively push forward to a better world for all our grandchildren is very appealing.

To Whom It May Concern:
I want to express my enthusiastic support for this multi-state initiative. It is past time to be taking concrete steps - aggressive steps - to address climate change. I hope those involved will move ahead quickly and a clear sense of the narrowing window we have to prevent the worst effects of global warming.
Sincerely,
Hillary Twining

Cutting gasoline will become a matter of life or death. We will keep using it as long as it's cheap and convenient. That's human nature. We MUST make it more expensive, so people will choose ways to NOT use it. This is life or death for our children's children. Implement this or a simpler carbon tax, and use the revenue progressively to help those hurt most by it, by returning the money straight back to them. Do not use the money for pet climate projects. Because the most effective and fairest measures are chosen by each of us individually.

I am a very concerned citizen who believes that the governor's and legislators' resistance to increasing the cost of carbon is very short sighted. The only thing that reliably changes people's behavior in this country is financial incentive. It is actually a very capitalistic and Republican manner of achieving results without the government deciding how it gets done.
TCI does not go far enough to cut carbon quickly, but it is a very important step that can be taken without major economic upheaval. We have endured gas price increases much more drastic than TCI would cause during prior gas shortages or panics. We paid up to $4/gallon not that long ago. When we did, people bought smaller cars and carpooled and used public transit or stayed home more. They had to. That is a price that we should pay now, and use the funds generated to help people who can least afford the price increases to change their mode of transportation and decrease their heating fuel needs. Upgrading vehicles and weatherization for those least able to pay will give them long term economic benefits from the price increases and help VT and the world achieve the needed decrease in fossil fuel use.
If we do not pay the small price now, the cost in disaster mitigation will dwarf the cost of TCI. Even though we are a small portion of worldwide CO2 emissions, Vermont must do its part. Every single portion counts. If we do not do it, everyone may not do it. We all must pay a price for the excesses of the last century or pay a much bigger price later. Delaying aggressive action is like obtaining an extremely high interest loan--it will come due and we will pay for it.
Please approve joining into the Transportation Climate Initiative now.
Thank you,
Donna Smyers

WHILE we drag in MORE Illegal AIENS and MASS PAYS FOR THEIR HEALTH Insurance; Food Stamps and all our WElfare systems.......THESE COMMUNIST STATES ARE TAXING THE WORKER ..YET AGAIN!!!
ILLEGALS ARE TAKING OVER OUR CITY OF BOSTON; CREATING UNBEARABLE TRAFFIC AND YOUR ANSWER TO IT ALL IS TO "TAX THE WORKER" YET AGAIN...! WHY DONT YOU STOP GIVING OUT OUR WELFARE DOLLARS TO ILLEGALS??? MAYBE THAT WOULD PAY FOR YOUR PHONY CLIMATE INITIATIVE! THIS STATE WILL HAVE NOTHING LEFT FOR TAX PAYERS IF YOU CONTINUE TO ATTACK WORKERS WHILE ENABLING & ENTICING ILLEGALS THAT WORK UNDER THE TABLE & PAY "NO TAXES". THIS IS WHY TRUMP IS THE ONLY ANSWER FOR THIS COUNTRY! SIGNED, 4 DECADES LONG "EX-DEMOCRAT"YOU GOT MY LAST VOTE IN 2014..NEVER VOTING DEMOCRAT/SOCIALIST AGAIN! WARREN IS A CONFIRMED "GONE ROGUE SOCIALIST"

This is nothing but a leftest democrat money grab. There is only one guarantee. Taxes will go up. Pollution IS real. The fear mongering narrative spewing from the climate initiative industry is baseless and false. The science is not "undisputed" in fact its highly disputed. More and more we find out about the lies. Maine and Mainers are not culprits to the world climate. I say let the other states proceed if they want and we will monitor it's success or more likely it's failures. Lets be honest here. What Government program ever created has been successful?.

Lets keep the activism going and solve emission problems, but lets not allow the government to dictate the taxes and fees while all the while foolishly spending it in other areas. Does anyone know how Maine has benefited from previous initiatives?

The push for electric cars looks good on paper but realistically we are still in test mode. The percent of cases of dangerous and unsafe incidences (batteries blowing up and catching fire) is currently low but what about when we force the market and the country is infiltrated with EV's. The percentage remains the same but the incidents will increase to an alarming level. I do not trust these cars in the mainstream yet. Tesla has been highly subsidized and they are still faced with reliability and practicality issues.
We were duped on the wind mills. They don't pay for themselves before they expire and now were are having disposal issues.

We need more studies and test before we jump on the so called "clean" EV's.
1-I want to know how we are to dispose of these very expensive batteries that are useless after 10 to 15 years.
2-I want to know how much more or less fossil fuels will be used to generate the increased power for charging stations.
3-I want to know what kind of regulations are in place for mining the minerals required. Huge corporate mining facilities and child labor.
4-What is the life expectancy of an EV in cold climates like Maine. A legit concern.
It seems as we are ready and willing to throw money to the problems without asking any questions.

TCI is NOT for Maine. At the very least we should have a referendum.

Transportation is now the largest source of pollution in the area where I live, one of the largest in the world. The emissioond of greenhouse gases are appalling but It's far more than greenhouse gases, the particle pollution is the direct cause of many health problems. Commute times have skyrocketed in the many years I've been living here. I'd like my children and grandchildren to be able to breathe air as clean as it was when I was a child.

I would like to see New York formally join the plan to reduce emissions. This is one of the few initiatives I've seen that has bipartisan support. Our country needs more of those if it is to continue to exist.

It is very important that the final policy policy has a strong component of prioritizing clean investments in areas overburdened by pollution and/or for those who don't have access.

The science of climate change is real. Scientists agree, and it's bad. After procrastinating for decades we have a short period of time to start turning off the greenhouse gas faucet. We can leverage market forces to start reducing transportation emissions through TCI.

I request that the Commonwealth of Vermont. take our common climate wealth seriously and formally join the TCI to reduce emissions. I further ask that the policy prioritizes clean investments in areas overburdened by pollution and is financially affordable for poor families and individuals as possible.

Thank you.

1/24/2020

We don't not need Transportation Climate Imitative, it is just one more TAX on or backs bad for Maine and Mainers and companies. Lets put it in the trash where it needs to go