Transportation and Climate Initiative

The Transportation and Climate Initiative was a 2010[1] proposed interstate compact in the United States, which aimed to limit greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicle fuel sources in the northeastern United States using a cap and trade system on wholesale suppliers.[2] The media also referred to the plan as the Northeast Climate Pact.[3]

Jurisdictions participating in discussions were the District of Columbia and the U.S. states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia.[2] Most of these jurisdictions already participated in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation.

If the plan had been implemented, gasoline prices in the participating states would have increased. The estimates ranged from 5 to 24 cents per gallon in 2023.[4] Political leaders were also concerned that the tax would hit the poor hardest.[5]

The proposal disintegrated during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Massachusetts withdrew from the agreement in November 2021, citing new, alternate sources of funding to "upgrade its roads, bridges and public transportation systems".[6] The final state to withdraw was Rhode Island.[7]

References
  1. https://www.transportationandclimate.org/sites/default/files/TCI-declaration.pdf
  2. Mass. Part Of Regional Effort To Drive Down Emissions From Gas And Diesel
  3. "The Northeast Climate Pact Implodes". The Wall Street Journal. 19 November 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2021. Their problem is that consumers don't want to pay more for energy, and as the latest proof behold Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont's retreat this week from a Northeast state climate pact
  4. David Abel (18 November 2021). "Baker pulls support for regional pact that would address climate change". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 21 November 2021. Gas prices were expected to rise 5 to 9 cents a gallon when the rules took effect in 2023, with some estimates suggesting it could add as much as 24 cents
  5. "Rising gas prices are fueling opposition to Transportation Climate Initiative". 17 November 2021.
  6. Gov. Baker pulling Massachusetts out of Transportation Climate Initiative compact - "At the same time, the new federal infrastructure funding package, American Rescue Plan investments, as well as tax revenue surpluses generated by Massachusetts' strong economic recovery make the Commonwealth better positioned to upgrade its roads, bridges and public transportation systems"
  7. Amy Sokolow (20 November 2021). "Rhode Island, the final state, pulls out of TCI". The Boston Herald. Retrieved 21 November 2021. After both Massachusetts and Connecticut's governors pulled out of the Transportation and Climate Initiative, citing waning support and higher gas prices, Rhode Island has also has left, putting the nail in the coffin on the multi-state partnership


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