TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

Everyday another scientific article comes out stating how URGENT the climate crisis is - essentially the entire ecosystem is unraveling. Even if you do as much as you can as fast as you it, it won't be enough - and yet, you must do your part to help mitigate the impending catastrophes until more aggressive policy steps are taken.

TCI attempts to bypass the democratic process by pushing through a tax increase without forcing the legislature to take a vote. I do NOT agree with any process that bypasses legislative procedure. Our elected lawmakers should be debating and voting on these decisions. There can be no tax increase without a legislative vote. That would be the very definition of taxation without representation. NO TO TCI!!!

Transportation sector hydrocarbon reduction to date has been based on a lack of a mass-produced electric vehicles of the types people need. The lack of vehicles is not because no one wants the vehicles or because the manufacturers do not want to produce them, but because the battery technology is still immature and the supply chains for mass-produced batteries and rare earth permanent magnets is early stage development. The cost-benefit for consumers even with tax incentives is not there because the vehicles are more expensive for less capability. All major manufacturers have announced $300 billion in electric vehicle manufacturing investments over the next few years with large scale production starting in 2021. That said it will take until 2030 for mass production to be fully realized. Consumers and businesses with a new ICE technology vehicle are not going to run out and buy a new electric car until their current ICE vehicle reaches its end of useful service (8-10 years). At that point consumers will have a choice and will make the choice based on the advantages of the future EV's, not because of TCI. TCI does not help us move forward only adds consumer costs. TCI does nothing to solve that and all rigorous studies show that it does not reduce hydrocarbon consumption, does nothing to enhance transportation sector electrification and adds no funding for desperately needed highway repairs.
https://ljfo.vermont.gov/assets/Uploads/a5e545b014/rap-carbon-management-VT-JFO-february-2019-updated.pdf
https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy18osti/71500.pdf
https://graphics.reuters.com/AUTOS-INVESTMENT-ELECTRIC/010081ZB3HD/index.html
https://www.iea.org/reports/global-ev-outlook-2019
https://www.jpmorgan.com/global/research/electric-vehicles
https://www.eei.org/resourcesandmedia/newsroom/Pages/Press%20Releaseshttps://www.eei.org/resourcesandmedia/newsroom/Pages/Press%20Releases/EEI%20Celebrates%201%20Million%20Electric%20Vehicles%20on%20U-S-%20Roads.aspx
https://www.iso-ne.com/static-assets/documents/2019/12/draft_2020_transpElectr_fx.pdf

Involve the community in any decision-making processes FIRST! — and that the community will be the FIRST!

Agency goals should be to establish ways to talk more directly with environmental justice communities, which can be “co-opted” by outside groups pushing their own agendas. “We need to peel past that and really get to the communities themselves and make sure that they’re hearing us—and, as importantly or more importantly, we’re hearing them.” Garvin says individuals DNREC has interacted previously with on issues of environmental justice. The event was not promoted publicly, but that it is not a closed meeting.

Please stand up for fence-line communities in the TCI process in the Mid-Atlantic.

Why am I and others just hearing about this Policy in the community after the fact?

The Transportation Climate Initiative (TCI) has many potential strengths -- in particular the fact that it will tackle carbon emissions on a regional basis. However, this bill must be a lot stronger. We are clearly in a climate emergency, and we need to take bold and wide-ranging actions now! As it now stands, about TCI is:
TOO LITTLE
1. The TCI does not address the carbon emissions generated by housing and heating. To be effective, it must be paired with other bills that cover these areas.
2. As proposed, TCI would reduce emissions from transportation 20-25% over 10 years. However, taking into account more efficient vehicles on the road by then, TCI would drop emissions only 1-6% beyond decreases in vehicle emissions expected by Governor Baker's administration. So not only is this “decrease” deceptive, it is nowhere near enough to prevent the worst impacts of the climate crisis.
3. The large emissions from jet fuel are not included in TCI.
TOO LATE
4. It will take several years before TCI will be implemented. Getting all the states to agree on terms and figuring out the logistics will be a long and complicated process. These negotiations will also involve a lot of compromise, so that the final plan may not have the stringent emission reductions that we need.
TOO VAGUE AND NOT EQUITABLE
5. The expenditure of TCI funds is not specified. Without clear, enforceable, and equitable policies, TCI will create a regressive gasoline tax that will hit moderate- and low-income and rural residents the hardest. The expenditures must be specified now – not left up to the governor or some future committee. TCI policy regulations in Massachusetts and other states should include the same equitable plans that are specified in the Benson Bill, H2810 in order to:
a. ensure that low- and moderate-income families and rural residents do not bear an unfair financial burden that they can ill afford;
b. support low-income communities to reduce their emissions and to strengthen their infrastructure in the face of the consequences of climate change.

We face devastating and irreversible effects of climate change! We are all in this together and cannot waste time “kicking the can down the road.” TCI has a lot of potential, but it must be paired with H2810 in order to be more ambitious, immediate, and equitable!!

I have lived in Harris county, TX for more than 40 years. Highway keep getting more lanes and traffic continues to be a nightmare. someone must come up with a plan to move more people around without for cars and traffic congestion.

make corporations who are sliming the environment and sickening people pay to fix up this mess! many of these industries are subsidized by taxpayer dollars. for years they've promoted a dialogue that puts the onus on the public to control their polluting habits. they have gaslighted the public. now is the time for corporate responsibility to clean up the mess they and politician's created!!!!

Our transportation system is not working well. Though nobody wants higher taxes, I SUPPORT an increase in the gas tax of at least 15 cents/gallon immediately to get better infrastructure in place. PLEASE--end the gridlock!

I am in support of this program. I urge you to join the initial group of states. Thank you.