TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

First of all,we need to approach the problem on all fronts,with every means,realizing that there will not be one perfect solution,but doing nothing is definitely not the solution.We also need a target.The target should be no investment in anything that makes the problem worse,but also think about how to take carbon out of the atmosphere most efficiently.One of the means is to price carbon,and to do that we can do some thought experiments.If the goal is to change people's behavior how much should that price be?Should it be $5 per ton,increasing $1 per year?Obviously not,since such a insignificant increase would change nothing.Why would you even bother?This would be greenwashing.If this is to be a regional approach I would advocate for increasing that by a factor of 10.Thus it would start at $50 per ton,and increase $10 per year.Would this put our region at a disadvantage?Not if the entire region,in all of its public unions,colleges,etc divested from fossil fuels,and pledged to be fossil fuel free in terms of cars and trucks by 2025.that is,no registration of new fossil fueled cars and trucks by 2025.Meanwhile,one would need to return this money in a progressive fashion-the lowest quintile to receive 175% of the dividend,next lowest 150%,middle 125%,next higher 35%,highest possibly15%.Not as a dividend,but as a green debit card,so that the money could only be spent on green options-e.g.,mass transit,bikes,electric cars,solar panels,mini-split heaters,etc.Meanwhile,all of the attorney generals should proceed with their cases against Exxon Mobil etc.Meanwhile,copy California making solar requisite on all new homes by 2020.Fund immediate rebates for lower income folks purchasing ev cars,again copying California.Make it a rule that by 2020 no municipality buys another school bus that is not electric.No town vehicle that is not either electric or something like a Workhorse truck.JFK in ? 1961 pledged to put a man on the moon before the end of the decade,when our rockets were blowing up on the launchpad.He did not have the technology then.We have all the technology to do this now.We just choose to spend on money propping up the polluting fossil fuel industries that will ultimately go bankrupt and pay nothing to mitigate the disasters they are causing not in the future,but now.I am tired of both parties doing squat.Fix the problem.It's not landing on the moon.

•I am a concerned citizen who would like my grandchildren to inherit a livable earth & climate.
•The carbon price must be high enough to have the desired effect of reducing carbon emissions.
•There should be a strong component of social equity
•I think it is excellent that this project is bipartisan.

I'd like to see policies that encourage consumers to choose electric vehicles over internal combustion engines. This could be done through carbon pricing, tax incentives, or perks given to drivers of EVs (preferred parking, discounted tolls, HOV lanes, etc.)

Thank you for your practical, bipartisan work. I hope you will quickly develop and states will implement an ambitious plan to:
-- set a price high enough to drastically reduce emissions, relying on the latest science.
-- roll out the plan in a way that will build public (bipartisan, business, broad) support, with gradual implementation but an ambitious target (businesses and other people can adapt, but they need predictability).
-- build in a strong component of social equity so it doesn't hurt rural or low/moderate income people (e.g., rebating to all citizens equally, not just rebating in a way that those who use more fuel get more rebate - see citizensclimatelobby.org)

Please support transportation policy that 1) imposes a carbon price high enough to be effective at reducing carbon emissions and 2) is crafted to avoid imposing a burden on low and moderate income people.

Eventually, all transportation must be electrified. A carbon fee and dividend is the most useful method, at
present, to drive this process. Electric cars and busses can be subsidized in by increased additional
gasoline tax with revenue used to reduce fare prices on trollies and busses to support public transportation
and decrease auto use, and assigning part of the carbon fee to reduce fares.

My name is Jim Whalen and I live in Hudson, MA. I am an avid cross country skier so I KNOW that climate change is real. I also see violent weather all over the place and I read the science. We must do something and soon. So thank you for this initiative. Market or economic based solutions are needed. A tax on carbon simply makes sense. When gas was over $4 a gallon we all drove less and we looked for fuel efficient vehicles. No more. Gas is cheap and we drive more and huge pickups are popular once again. But let’s avoid the problems we saw in France and be cognizant of people who would suffer under a carbon tax. We should return some of the tax revenue to those who would need it.

I am Professor of Psychology and I teach Psychology for Sustainability. I have been a member of Citizens Climate Lobby in Durham, NH. Last night I attended a 5-person panel on The Green New Deal. Hosts were 350NH.org and The Sunrise Movement. I was struck by the consensus with CCL in promoting social equity as well as carbon fee and dividend. Whatever plan you propose, it must be fair to the public. As such, I would hope for bipartisan appeal. The goal of reducing carbon in the atmosphere is an imperative. We have only a decade left to turn around the accelerating costs of doing nothing: loss of biodiversity, extreme weather events, sea level rise, etc. We are in a dangerous climate crisis produced by humans.

My name is Jennifer Kleindienst, a resident of Middletown, CT, a community activist, and volunteer with Citizens' Climate Lobby. I believe that climate change is the most important issue of our planet, country, and region, and that we must do all we can to reduce its effects and mitigate its impacts. As transportation accounts for the largest portion of greenhouse gas emissions nationally and locally, developing a strong transportation and climate initiative is essential.

When developing this policy, I make two strong requests to improve effectiveness and equity:
1. The price on carbon must be high enough to effectively reduce emissions according to the latest available scientific projections.
2. The policy must include a strong component of social equity so that it does not disproportionately negatively impact rural residents or low/moderate income people.

I am grateful that this process is bipartisan - this is essential to making the initiative have lasting effectiveness.
Thank you for welcoming public comment and I look forward to seeing the finalized strong policy.