Pricing Carbon, Paying Dividends — April 29, 2015

In This Issue:

  1. Hillary Clinton should support cap and dividend: The American Prospect, Robert Kuttner
  2. Oregonians testify before state legislature in support of cap and dividend: Statesman Journal
  3. What if polluters paid and you got the money? Sightline Daily
  4. A truly American approach to reducing green house gases: Citizens for Global Solutions
  5. Price carbon now, before low-cost oil says “caio”: OECD Insights blog
  6. Round-up of states where pricing carbon initiatives of note are happening

1. Hillary Clinton should support cap and dividend: Robert Kuttner, The American Prospect

“So while it’s good that Clinton is positioning herself as more of a progressive, I think she needs to be even more radical, both to generate real enthusiasm and to address America’s real problems. Alaska, a state of rugged individualists not famous for left-wingers, has pioneered a model of extractive socialism that should be taken national. My friend Peter Barnes suggests a similar citizen dividend not just for minerals but for any privatization of something taken from the commons—whether publicly subsidized knowledge such as the Internet or energy company profits. You should read his book—better yet, Hillary should.”
More here

2. Oregonians testify before state legislature in support of cap and dividend: Statesman Journal

“Oregon lawmakers heard testimony Tuesday on three bills that would set a price on carbon emissions in Oregon. House Bill 3250 would be the nation’s strongest state-level effort against climate change, according to Oregon Climate, a Portland-based advocacy group that developed the concept. The bill would put a price on emissions and send the revenue directly to Oregon residents. Oregon Climate estimates each resident would receive between $500 and $1,500 per year.”

More here

3. What if polluters paid and you got the money?: Sightline Daily

“What if we could click our ruby slippers and transport ourselves to a magical place where polluters pay and we all get checks in the mail? The Oregon legislature is considering two bills that would take us there. If Oregon passed a polluters-pay-plus-dividend bill, the air would no longer be a free dumping ground for pollution, clean energy would be on an even playing field with fossil fuels, and each Oregonian would get a check for $500-$1,500 every year. Sound too good to be true? It’s not. Here are the details, Q & A style.”
More here

4. A truly American approach to reducing green house gases: Citizens for Global Solutions

“We need to stop treating climate change as an abstract, expensive threat to Americans. When we hear that we will have to pay higher taxes or gas prices in order to protect future generations, we cringe and worry about how it will affect our lives in the here and now. Securing our climate needs to pay off for Americans today–and it can through the Healthy Climate and Family Security Act. Our families deserve to benefit from this innovative, and truly American, approach to achieve scientifically-targeted and market-driven reductions reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.”

More here

5. Price carbon now, before low-cost oil says “caio”: OECD Insights Blog

“We don’t know how long oil prices will stay low, so with energy bills bottoming out, it’s prime time to introduce a tax on carbon, along with policies that push energy innovation in cost-effective ways, and shift decisions about production and consumption towards low-carbon choices. ‘Every government will need to explain how their policy settings are consistent with a pathway to eliminate emissions from fossil fuel combustion in the second half of the century,’ says OECE Secretary-General Angel Gurria.”
More here

6. Round-up of states where pricing carbon initiatives of note are happening (in addition to Oregon, reported on above)

Washington—Carbon Washington, at http://carbonwa.org, has launched an initiative to gather 315,000 signatures to put a “revenue neutral carbon fee” resolution on the ballot in November. Their proposal would put a $15/ton fee on carbon polluters the first year, a $25/ton increase the next year, and increasing at 3.5%/year plus inflation after that up to $100. The money raised would be used to reduce a state sales tax 1%, for a tax rebate to working families and to eliminate a business tax on manufacturers.
Massachusetts – The Massachusetts Campaign for a Clean Energy Future, at http://climate-xchange.org, is advancing a bill introduced in the Senate that has been co-sponsored by 42 Senators and House members, 20% of all legislators. There is a fee of $10/ton on “CO2 equivalent” (carbon and other greenhouse gases) the first year, $5/ton a year up to $40. The money raised would be returned as rebate payments to individuals (60% of the revenue) and businesses (40% of the revenue).
Vermont – Energy Independent Vermont, at http://energyindependentvt.org, reports on two bills that have been introduced in the House. The main bill has 27 co-sponsors (vs. 4 for other bill). It enacts a $10/ton tax on fuel distributors the first year, going up $10/year up to $100. 90% of the revenue would be used to reduce other taxes or for tax credits. The remaining 10% goes to energy efficiency (weatherization and transportation).
Rhode Island – Energize Rhode Island Coalition, at http://energizeri.org, had two bills introduced in the House and Senate, though they were withdrawn in early April for reworking. The bills had a $15/ton “CO2 equivalent” fee the first year, $5/ton a year after that. 25% of the proceeds from the fee would go for weatherization programs for low-income households and small businesses, 70% would be for direct dividends (30% for employers and 40% for individuals), and 5% would be for administrative costs.

CCAN encourages readers of the Cap and Dividend Policy Update to distribute it to others who might be interested. We welcome input on the contents of this publication and ideas for what could be included.

Questions? Contact Ted Glick, National Campaign Coordinator, at ted@chesapeakeclimate.org.