TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

A $0.20 fuel tax to prevent climate change? Are you people out of your mind? Climate change has been a part of this planet longer than people have. Rather than destroying our economy and lowering our standard of living trying to prevent the inevitable let's put our time and energy into preparing for it

I am a long time Geo Metro driver with my husband operating all electric cars for 10 years. I know poor people in Lewiston who want to work in Portland, but have no way to get there. I volunteer at the Gathering Place in Brunswick where many people need cheap transportation to Lewiston, via bus or train, but it's not available. The public needs regular bus routes between Lewiston and Brunswick so L/A residents have access to the major job source and services in Portland. Maine must reactivate the train line between Auburn and Portland to connect the two major urban areas of the state. Middle class workers will use this line, since it's much pleasanter, more affordable, and lower Carbon impact to ride instead of drive that distance.
I live in Topsham and support Governor Mills participation in the regional planning for greener public transportation in Maine. This plan must incorporate the most recent and best science on climate emissions from transportation. Transportation policy must be fair and inclusive for elderly, poor and handicapped people in Maine. This large group of Maine residents do not have private transportation and many need regular, affordable transport between Lewiston, Brunswick, and Portland to help meet their basic needs for essential services.
I am delighted and thankful that this policy planning includes both Republicans and Democrats, since it will work out compromises of cost, and practicality that will best serve Maine people and have support in the legislature to be enacted.
I am in the process of moving from 14 miles south of Bath to center of Topsham in order to reduce my driving time, climate impact, and costs. I am still able to walk the 1.4 miles to downtown Brunswick, yet will be working for cooperation between Topsham and Brunswick to extend Brunswick's good bus system to Topsham. This is one urban area which is only half connected via public transportation. Traffic congestion is moderate and growing both bypassing Brunswick and from Topsham to Brunswick and could be alleviated with an extended bus system. A regular bus system between Bath and Brunswick is greatly needed, since affordable housing in Brunswick is unavailable and very limited in Bath. Low income people who have no cars cannot get to work or housing between those two cities. The Brunswick Explorer bus has adapted and responded to need to transport students and refugees to and from the old Navy base at Cook's Corner.
Lanes for bicycle traffic should be established between urban areas and along scenic routes, as this can be both affordable transportation, good for people's health and reduce congestion, air pollution, and carbon emissions. Topsham has started this process of making a safe walking/biking path along the bypass connector between Rt 1 in Brunswick and Rt 196. When completed many Topsham residents will be able to walk and bike to the Topsham Fair Mall.
For decades I have wanted a dial in ride sharing system to be created using people's smart phones to schedule shared rides to work. The state and BIW have done this with vans for some of their workers. This concept could be applied to private vehicles with thought given to screening people in the system for criminal records. The state cannot guarantee safety of people using such a system, yet the potential to reduce gas miles driven is huge. Perhaps towns could create a register of screened drivers with insurance who are willing to share rides. Maine can build on our small town culture of looking after one another, and take better care of our isolated elderly and poor residents with such a service. I am part of a volunteer network of drivers with New Mainers who take non English speaking residents of Brunswick to their twice weekly English classes in Topsham. this involves scheduling about 15 drivers with 20 or more residents and setting up phone communication for cancelations. Such transportation is also provided, or connections to the bus systems, for people to attend essential meetings in Portland. BIcycles have also been given to every adult at Brunswick Landing who wants one, and training provided in bike safety and practice biking to the library.
Mostly I would like to see commuters sharing rides to minimize Carbon emissions, reduce traffic congestion and free up parking in urban areas. Thank you for this long needed subcommittee to design sensible transportation systems. Please look at European rail, and other public transport systems for adaptation to Maine's transport needs.

What is the cost to consumers? I assume that not
providing said information is because it is going to be more than most are able and/or willing to pay. Crushing your constituents with taxes and fees is out of control.

Slip-in Food Marts, INC which employs 42 people is strongly opposed to the "framework for a draft regional policy proposal" which seeks to expropriate the petroleum marketing industry. Over time this plan proposes to move Virginia from simple rationing and new taxes to the ultimate prohibition of fossil fuels.
This plan does not assess the collateral damage it will inflict on state revenue, local tax collections, Virginia's Transportation Trust fund, and consumers.
Many of the advocates of these policies support regulation to electrify transportation. Those advocates somehow forget to mention that a major component of batteries powering these vehicles is cobalt, 90 percent of which is mined in third world countries under unfavorable working conditions.
As the number of electric vehicles grows, petroleum marketers will likely have to battle for a share of the electric vehicle charging market with utility companies that see EV charging as a new business opportunity without cost. When utility companies install charging stations, they may seek the ability to include that cost as part of their capital investment. When these costs are approved by governmental regulatory agencies, they can then be passed on to all ratepayers as part of their monthly electric bills.
Slip-in Food Marts, INC believes this would provide regulated utilities an unfair competitive advantage that Virginia based small businesses simply cannot compete with. I must economically justify and self-fund at risk investments in new equipment like EV charging stations and so should my competition.
Another likely competitor under this scheme is the state government itself. This is not a concept, as just this past session the General Assembly passed legislation to allow the Departments of Conservation and Recreation, General Services, and Transportation to install electric chargers. Fortunately our association was able to narrow this initiative considerably by limiting the number of state agencies involved and mitigating the threat of unfair competition by requiring the state to sell the power at prevailing market rates including taxes.
All Virginians, particularly the petroleum marketing and convenience industries, support a clean environment. There are many ways to achieve this without rationing. Incentivizing the sale of electric vehicles does nothing to meet your stated goals of "equity, environmental justice, and non-discrimination." As one example, the stated goals could be achieved far faster and cheaper via efforts to assist low-income Virginians to purchase more fuel efficient vehicles that meet current and future CAFÉ standards.
History has proven that rationing followed by prohibition - the ultimate goal of TCI - has led to black markets, unregulated and untaxed sales, and undue burdens on law enforcement.
The impact of these proposals will not be solely on fuel sellers and convenience stores - what about the auto repair industry, muffler shops, service facilities at new car dealers, quick lubes etc.? What about agriculture, construction, Loggers and watermen who will be forced to scrap present equipment or pay artificially high prices due to rationing? What about the consumer who will experience not only higher prices to operate their personal vehicles, but higher prices for consumer goods and services?
The impact of these proposals will completely devastate Virginia’s economics. Recent information predicts an alternative fuel source for Commercial Trucks are 15 to 20 years out, Trucking companies have utilized Virginia interstates I95, I85 and I81 as a major travel corridor for years which allowed the state and individual companies to benefit from them stopping and doing business on these popular travel routes. The proposals will cause the majority of companies to route their trucks around the state devastating businesses.
Slip-in Food Marts, INC opposes the TCI plan to ration, tax and ultimately eliminate fossil fuels.

I am in favor of the Transportation & Climate Initiative (TCI) because:
it is a multi-state effort;
it would use the cap-and-invest version of carbon pricing to modernize our transportation system;
it could, if well designed and properly implemented, generate millions of dollars for public transit, bike paths, EV incentives and infrastructure.
TCI could help achieve a stronger economy, equity for low-income and rural Vermonters, and a reduction in carbon pollution.
Thank you for your attention.

Please accept these comments on behalf of the National Biodiesel Board. Thanks for your consideration. - Shelby Neal

Callaville, LLC which helps employ numerous people and is strongly opposed to the "framework for a draft regional policy proposal" which seeks to expropriate the petroleum marketing industry. Over time this plan proposes to move Virginia from simple rationing and new taxes to the ultimate prohibition of fossil fuels.
This plan does not assess the collateral damage it will inflict on state revenue, local tax collections, Virginia's Transportation Trust fund, and consumers.
Many of the advocates of these policies support regulation to electrify transportation. Those advocates somehow forget to mention that a major component of batteries powering these vehicles is cobalt, 90 percent of which is mined in third world countries under unfavorable working conditions.
As the number of electric vehicles grows, petroleum marketers will likely have to battle for a share of the electric vehicle charging market with utility companies that see EV charging as a new business opportunity without cost. When utility companies install charging stations, they may seek the ability to include that cost as part of their capital investment. When these costs are approved by governmental regulatory agencies, they can then be passed on to all ratepayers as part of their monthly electric bills.
Callaville, LLC believes this would provide regulated utilities an unfair competitive advantage that Virginia based small businesses simply cannot compete with. I must economically justify and self-fund at risk investments in new equipment like EV charging stations and so should my competition.
Another likely competitor under this scheme is the state government itself. This is not a concept, as just this past session the General Assembly passed legislation to allow the Departments of Conservation and Recreation, General Services, and Transportation to install electric chargers. Fortunately our association was able to narrow this initiative considerably by limiting the number of state agencies involved and mitigating the threat of unfair competition by requiring the state to sell the power at prevailing market rates including taxes.
All Virginians, particularly the petroleum marketing and convenience industries, support a clean environment. There are many ways to achieve this without rationing. Incentivizing the sale of electric vehicles does nothing to meet your stated goals of "equity, environmental justice, and non-discrimination." As one example, the stated goals could be achieved far faster and cheaper via efforts to assist low-income Virginians to purchase more fuel efficient vehicles that meet current and future CAFÉ standards.
History has proven that rationing followed by prohibition - the ultimate goal of TCI - has led to black markets, unregulated and untaxed sales, and undue burdens on law enforcement.
The impact of these proposals will not be solely on fuel sellers and convenience stores - what about the auto repair industry, muffler shops, service facilities at new car dealers, quick lubes etc.? What about agriculture, construction, Loggers and watermen who will be forced to scrap present equipment or pay artificially high prices due to rationing? What about the consumer who will experience not only higher prices to operate their personal vehicles, but higher prices for consumer goods and services?
The impact of these proposals will completely devastate Virginia’s economics. Recent information predicts an alternative fuel source for Commercial Trucks are 15 to 20 years out, Trucking companies have utilized Virginia interstates I95, I85 and I81 as a major travel corridor for years which allowed the state and individual companies to benefit from them stopping and doing business on these popular travel routes. The proposals will cause the majority of companies to route their trucks around the state devastating businesses.
Callaville, LLC opposes the TCI plan to ration, tax and ultimately eliminate fossil fuels.