Republican Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker announced Thursday that his state is pulling out of its commitment to a multi-state pact to reduce carbon emissions in the transportation industry.
Baker said he is withdrawing from the Transportation and Climate Initiative because not enough states are committed to it, while his press secretary added that the recent federal infrastructure investments would help the state decrease transportation emissions.
“The Baker-Polito administration always maintained the commonwealth would only move forward with TCI if multiple states committed, and, as that does not exist, the transportation climate initiative is no longer the best solution for the commonwealth’s transportation and environmental needs,” Baker’s press secretary said, according to WCVB.
Connecticut, one of the members of the pact, announced Wednesday that it was backing off its commitment, citing high gas prices, according to the Boston Herald.
The TCI program sets a “cap” on carbon emissions from transportation fuel, according to its website. The goal of the coalition is to reduce emissions by 26% between 2022 and 2032.
Suppliers of transportation fuel, including gasoline and diesel companies, would have to purchase “allowances” for emissions caused by their fuel. The TCI would use the revenue raised from those allowances to invest in greener transportation initiatives.
The Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance, which advocates for “fiscal responsibility” in the state and has been an opponent of TCI, celebrated the state’s withdrawal from the pact.
“TCI is a regressive gas tax scheme that would have hurt the middle class and the working poor the most. It’s such wonderful news to see that Massachusetts families will not be forced to endure the economic hardship TCI would have imposed upon them,” the organization’s spokesperson said in a statement.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The state first announced it was joining TCI in December 2020.
The Washington Examiner reached out to Gov. Baker’s office for comment.
