TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

This is an important economic initiative. Our businesses are being hurt by traffic congestion, lack of adequate mass transit and no congestion controls on major Massachusetts highways. This initiative can shift us into being much more attractive to new businesses coming to Massachusetts.

I would like to give comments regarding Maine’s involvement with the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI) as well as the three specific question areas of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

As a former Saco city councilor, current chair of the Saco Economic Development Commission, active board member of the Saco Main Street organization, Saco representative on the BSOOB Transit Committee and a small business owner with a degree in Engineering Technology, I believe I am well qualified to speak to this issue.

I commend Governor Mills and her attention to matters surrounding climate change and the potential harmful effects that rising CO2 levels have on the environment. However, I do not believe that CO2 alone, not to mention human or animal activity on CO2 levels are the most significant causes to climate change.

Please consider this amazing fact from Earth Sky, posted on May 22, 2019 titled: Magnetic North Is Shifting Fast...

“We already know that the magnetic pole moves. Both poles have wandered ever since the Earth existed. In fact, the poles even flip over, with north becoming south and south become in north.”

Also consider that the physical mechanism able to potentially explain the connection of Earth’s magnetic field to climate change is still an open issue.

From the Institute de Physique du Globe de Paris: “No forcing factor, be it changes in CO2 concentration in the atmosphere or changes in cosmic ray flux modulated by solar activity and geo magnetism, or possibly other factors , can at present be neglected or shown to be the overwhelming single driver of climate change in past centuries. Intensive data acquisition is required to further probe indications that the Earth’s and Sun’s magnetic fields may have significant bearing on climate change at certain time scales.” Source: Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Volume 253, ticket 3-4, p 328-339 (2007).

And this research article titled: New perspectives in the study of Earth’s magnetic field and climate connection, S.A. Campuzano, A. DeSantis, F.J. Paton Carrasco, M.L. Osete, E. Qamili (2018)...”There is a 90% confidence level that the magnetic field does impact the climate system including sea level rise.”

Now let me focus on the three questions in regard to the MOU.

Question 1: Setting starting levels and the trajectory for a regional cap on CO2 emissions from transportation fuels would be a variable construct that may prove unreliable if magnetic shifts are actually the larger issue at hand. Science must continue to focus attention on CO2 levels, but with a broader perspective. I believe a regional cap is difficult to target given the broader context. The question should be, “Given that current transportation fuels are a limited source, what research and innovation are being done now to find and implement alternatives to cleaner fuels and transportation needs?” This type of data and development is more concrete and effective. I know that research has been done on the harmful health effects that these fuels have on the population, but I cannot find the data to support these claims in the TCI, MOU or the National Energy Modeling System (NEMS) nor can I find relevant information for the claims made to support the TCI. I believe these documents have overly dramatized the concerns in an effort to push policies that will make our poorer populations even more destitute when they are taxed accordingly.

Question 2: If we reframe Question 1 to be as suggested, then Question 2 becomes irrelevant. However, goals could be set to help R&D methods and implementation. Communities in the region would possibly welcome the NEMS information when considering the changes to over all transportation needs. For instance, I know that our new electric buses in Biddeford, Saco and Old Orchard Beach will be a welcome addition, but it remains to be seen if the very cold temperatures that occur frequently in our region will allow them to run at all during below freezing temperatures. This would be a major inconvenience to those who rely on mass transit. Also, as we in Saco consider our work force needs and the higher density housing clusters in our urban core, what will be the impact of the transportation being desired? I can tell you that the BSOOB Transit Committee is just barely scratching the surface of this issue, and yet we envision some amazing progress that only our communities can come together to solve. What a shame it would be to tax everyone indiscriminately in an effort to pool funds that a much larger and more populated region and Maine would be competing for. Municipalities would still need to increase certain fees and costs locally to pay for any shortfall from a TCI “grant”.

Question 3: Stability mechanisms for emissions and pricing should not be considered given the context that CO2 levels are only one factor among many. Nothing remains stable for long and we are fools to believe even 50% in these projected models.

As Maine’s population ages, their income becomes less resistant to price increases. I saw first hand when I served as a city councilor how the elderly were the first people to complain when the property tax rate would increase. They cannot afford higher costs of living.

Let’s work on a system of information sharing instead, and learn about what other communities are implementing when local business, government and citizens take their vision of better communities into their own hands...Yes, we are doing it ALL THE TIME! AND IT IS WORKING.

The United States saw the largest decline in energy related CO2 emissions in 2019 on a country basis according to the International Energy Agency, down almost 1 Gt from their peak in the year 2000, the largest absolute decline by any country over that period.

Governor Mills and our state representatives must not enter into this TCI. It is a financial risk that our citizens cannot be allowed to bear.

Transportation is a major contributor to climate change, and climate change is already devastating our planet. Meanwhile, clean transportation is better for the environment, for our health, and the economy. Public transportation in particular is crucial to our state's future success. Please support clean public transportation and legislation to promote green transportation options. Support the Transportation and Climate Initiative!

In order to combat and reduce global climate change, we must eliminate most of the air pollution from not only privately-owned vehicles, but from public transportation vehicles--buses, taxis, trains and planes. If we do so, we shall lessen climate change and improve air, land and water quality radically. Please concentrate on the big vehicle polluters and eradicate the leading contributors to global warming. I have already promised to do my part by acquiring a nonpolluting vehicle, recycling and reducing waste and unnecessary usage of resources. Please do everything legally possible to promote and litigate regulations which highly restrict or eradicate pollution from public transportation. Thank you.

Please support EV DC fast charging across the participating states in the North Eastern US! This has the potential to make a significant impact on CO2 footprint and help speed adoption of viable zero/low-carbon transportation.

The research for my recent book (Leave It in the Ground: The Politics of Coal and Climate, Praeger-ABCClio, 2019) convinced me the significant greenhouse gas reduction is unlikely to be achieved unless carbon polluters are made to pay the true cost of carbon. Cap and trade schemes where the polluters are given free allowances do not work. When polluters have to pay for permission to pollute they have an incentive to reduce that pollution. TCC is a strong step in this direction, and allows for the price to be adjusted as needed.

An important feature of TCI is that the funds generated must be spent on programs to reduce GHG emissions, and to help those who cannot afford to pay the increased costs passed along to them by the polluters. There should be strict rules about this to assure that the money is not diverted to general budgetary relief for the participating states.

Finally, since the opponents of this program are calling it a "gas tax," I want to point out that it is not a tax; it is an assessment of the true costs of pollution, to be paid by the polluters.

These measure will make owning a car impossible for me and many of my friends, family, and fellow state citizens. These measures will bankrupt the low and middle class. Then recent findings have shown that electric vehicles cause more pollution and effect animals more than we knew. Don't damn this state and its citizens. This move will force the rich out and the poor will not be able to escape. This will destroy our state. DO NOT GO THROUGH WITH THIS!!!! LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE NOT THE MOBS!!!!

Pollution is making it harder to live on earth. With more & more species extinct every year soon it will be hard for humans to live on earth.
Gov Baker please support and accelerate this Climate & Transportation Initiative.
I would suggest more clean investments in areas with the most pollution and helping folks who have less access to transportation choices.