TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

I attended an informational meeting regarding the initiative and am impressed at the detail and processes that are apparent that will make it plausible. Vermont is a leader in ways to promote sustainable changes that positively impact our environment, we need to do this.

As I private citizen in Maine I find it financially hard to live here .The cost of food, income tax, use tax. sales tax ,fuel tax , property tax the list goes on and now an additional tax to try to get me to go electronic vehicles. First I would not have the money to even trade vehicles.So I am penalized with additional tax expense to even get to my job. Second what happens after most Maine residents finally get there electronic vehicle and the additional tax money dries up ? When do you start taxing the electricity to increase the dollars to the state again? The rural public transportation system is almost non existent, the rail system has been dismantled , do we all have to move to a city to survive. This is a rushed poorly thought out plan that will devastate the Maine economy. All under the feel good idea we will be stopping Global warming. We haven't heard what the additional cost to Global Warming will be to excavate more raw material to produce more batteries for solar power and wind, and the new electronic cars. The grid system will have to be increased to handle the increased electricity use and all the diesel generators that will have to run to keep up with peak demand until the grid is bigger. And lets not forget there is only one supplier I can buy from CMP not sure I want to trust them to do the right thing. Please reconsider this issue it is not good for me or anyone in Maine.No one gains form this initiative. Should this pass I will be considering leaving the state to find a state were my limited income will support me.

As a Maryland resident, environmental policy professional, and father, I believe that Maryland should make a make a firm commitment to adopt a regional transportation policy that achieves a minimum 40 percent reduction in transportation sector climate pollution by 2030, to keep us on track to meet the climate goals updated by the General Assembly in 2016.
Investment and policy decisions should be made based on pollution reduction and equity goals, as well as robust engagement opportunities from the public‒particularly those most overburdened by transportation pollution and undeserved by our current transportation system.

I am retired and this would be a hardship, but I think it is absolutely critical that we start to get a handle on what we pump into the atmosphere.
To borrow from another responder, " TCI seems to be an effective way to help us reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions while providing important funds to invest in clean transportation initiatives." We can't afford to wait any longer, nor can the climate wait for us to act. I totally support this initiative.

I own and operate a small business in Maine. To service our customers we average about 200k miles per year on our fleet of vehicles. Maine is already at a competitive disadvantage due to our geographical make-up, high cost of electricity and one of the highest overall tax rates in the Union.

We have limited public transportation which require most folks from Maine to commute via vehicle to and from work. In addition, we have to rely on our vehicles to purchase groceries, visit local clothing stores, transport our children to school events, etc.. This list goes on and on. We cannot simply park our vehicles and chose another mode of transportation.

To include Maine in this initiative will be catastrophic to our economy. As a business owner I will be forced to pass this cost on to my Customers. They in turn will have less disposable income to fuel the economy in Maine. I cannot speak to how this will impact other states, but I suspect outside of the large cities (Which already have large participation rates in public transportation) the rural areas will be in a similar situation as many of us in Maine.

I hope common sense will prevail.

I'm not sure what to do about this. I'm definitely committed to reducing carbon emissions, but I'm also not in a financial position to run out and buy an electric car.

NO on this ridiculous power grab!! We are all hard working Mainers in a rural state!!! The United Nations climate change modeling tool states that even if implemented across New England would make NO DIFFERENCE!! Here in Maine and New England are we going to close the doors on Acadia National park to stop 3,000,000 visitors in cars!!! RIDICULOUS!!!!
STOP THIS!!!!!
Barbara Logue, MAINE, USA

I fully support the TCI to reduce our carbon emissions and invest in clean energy. I want to see this initiative move forward to create a better future for our children.

Personally I am surprised that there is any hesitation on the part of the Vermont government to move forward with the TCI proposal when it partners states in the northeast to take a stand and move forward on climate issues that are in a state of emergency. Denmark nation wide is on schedule to reduce its carbon by 70% by 2030. The Netherlands is close behind, where is Vermont when it come to leading this nation in changing our ancient power producing methods. It is past the time for hesitation move us forward with our neighbors to get this project in place by 2022. Look at GreenIsland DK if you any questions. What kind of business climate could we have if our power costs 70% less. You could say goodbye to tax incentives and have a skilled work force installing Green Power as both Denmark and the Netherlands are doing NOW. Please feel free to contact me regarding Green Island DK as I am in conversation with one of their designers.