Governor Baker Announces Multi-State Agreement to Reduce Motor Vehicle Pollution 26% By 2032
Monday, December 21, 2020
MA Gov. Charlie Baker (R-MA)
The bipartisan Transportation and Climate Initiative Program (TCI-P) will allow participating jurisdictions to "invest in equitable, cleaner transportation options, and create significant new employment opportunities while substantially improving public health across the Commonwealth and New England," claim officials in the announcement.
Underscoring the importance of regional action, other Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI) jurisdictions released a joint statement "committing to continued collaboration on the development of the regional program, as well as working to identify additional regional strategies to reduce air pollution, create healthier communities, and invest in cleaner, more equitable transportation systems."
In addition, the State of North Carolina joined the joint statement, committing for the first time to working with the other TCI jurisdictions on the development of the program. With the issuance of the MOU, the remaining TCI jurisdictions have the ability to formally sign the MOU at any time. The program is slated to begin in 2023 after a reporting year to allow for additional jurisdictions to sign on.
Opposition in MA
One major taxpayer group in the Commonwealth was quick to voice opposition to the plan.
The Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance (MassFiscal) said in response to Baker and the other's announcement that the plan was bad policy.
“With Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito supporting TCI and entering Massachusetts into the scheme, I don't see a path for either of them being able to win an election in 2022. People are hurting right now and the administration’s obstinance on this issue is insensitive to their plight and tone-deaf to their ongoing struggles. TCI is bad policy and even worse politics,” stated Paul Diego Craney, spokesman of the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance.
Baker is resolute.
“As a Commonwealth, we have an obligation to address climate change head on and a challenge this great requires action across our region and nation. That’s why I am proud to join Governor Lamont, Governor Raimondo and Mayor Bowser to launch this trailblazing program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while building the clean, resilient transportation system of the future,” said Baker. “By partnering with our neighbor states with which we share tightly connected economies and transportation systems, we can make a more significant impact on climate change while creating jobs and growing the economy as a result. Several other Transportation and Climate Initiative states are also committing to this effort today and we look forward to these partners moving ahead with us as we build out this first in the nation program.”
Supporters of TCI say in a region with nation-leading climate goals, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Washington, D.C. are committing to bold action to ensure the achievement of emissions reduction targets while positioning the jurisdictions and region as leaders in the clean transportation economy. Accounting for 73 percent of the transportation emissions, 76 percent of the vehicles, and 75 to 80 percent of the gross domestic product in New England, the three states and Washington D.C. are taking this action at a time when the impacts of climate change continue to be felt across the country and region.
“Engaging in this way with my fellow governors and Mayor Bowser accomplishes goals we have set for Connecticut for years,” said Lamont. “Participating in the TCI-P will help grow our economy through a fresh injection of capital to provide for jobs and new infrastructure. This collaboration will cut our greenhouse gas emissions, and it will make our urban centers healthier, after decades of being adversely impacted by the emissions being released by traffic every day. Connecticut has always taken pride in our leadership role when it comes to climate, and when we can combine that with a stronger economy, fast transit systems, and regional cooperation, that’s a win for all of us.”
“My vision is for the District to be the healthiest, greenest, most liveable city for all our residents,” said Bowser. “To realize that vision, we have ambitious goals – for mobility, equity, and climate – and this program is an opportunity to accelerate all three, together. That’s why I’m proud to join this collaboration, leveraging a multi-jurisdictional commitment to cutting pollution to deliver real health benefits and investment dollars for all eight Wards.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need to proactively invest in protecting public health, especially in communities most affected by air pollution,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “The Transportation and Climate Initiative Program provides a critical opportunity to improve air quality throughout the Commonwealth, create jobs for Massachusetts residents, and help our state and regional economies recover.”
“Joining the Transportation and Climate Initiative is an investment in Rhode Islanders,” said Raimondo. “This first-of-its-kind program will provide $20 million annually for public transit, safe streets for bikers and pedestrians, and other green projects. Most importantly, it will provide much-needed relief for the urban communities who suffer lifelong health problems as a result of dirty air. I look forward to working with the Rhode Island General Assembly to launch this program and protect the health of Rhode Islanders.”
“The next decade is pivotal for all levels of government to take deliberate action to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, and this historic multi-jurisdictional program will unlock solutions that reduce emissions and protect our most vulnerable residents in environmental justice communities and communities underserved by transportation options,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides. “Importantly, all TCI jurisdictions have committed to continuing their work together on the program, and we look forward to welcoming additional states into the program while continuing our work across the region to meet our Net Zero climate goals here in Massachusetts, improving local air quality, and deploying new, clean transportation options.”
According to the Announcement:
The TCI-P jurisdictions have committed to invest 35 percent of annual revenue in communities underserved by current transportation options, and with disproportionately high levels of pollution. To ensure equitable clean transportation outcomes, Massachusetts will designate an advisory body with diverse representation to identify underserved and overburdened communities, provide guidance for investments, and define goals and metrics for measuring progress.
TCI-P will require large gasoline and diesel fuel suppliers to purchase “allowances” for the pollution caused by the combustion of fuels they sell in the regions. The total number of emission allowances would decline each year, resulting in less transportation pollution. Each participating jurisdiction will independently decide how to invest program proceeds. These proceeds will be invested in ways that help both urban and rural residents, including improving and expanding public transportation; zero-emission buses, cars, and trucks; electric vehicle charging infrastructure; development of interstate electric vehicle charging corridors; improving high speed wireless internet in rural and low-income areas to allow for teleworking; repairing existing roads and bridges; and providing safer bike lanes and sidewalks.
TCI-P was developed with extensive outreach and input from thousands of residents, stakeholders, businesses, and organizations, as part of the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI), a multi-jurisdictional collaboration of Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast states and the District of Columbia. With the signing of the TCI-P MOU, there will be many additional opportunities for the public to provide feedback during the subsequent development of a model rule, and program implementation.
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