Neglected in the initial media excitement over the Democratic sweep in the U.S mid-term elections was a local ballot initiative in the city of Boulder, Colorado.
Voters there approved what is essentially a carbon tax. The new tax is based on the home energy use (ie. $per kWh) and the revenues will go to the city's Environmental Affairs Office. The city council is hoping it will help Boulder reduce its GHG emissions to 7% below 1990 levels by the year 2012, a goal based on the Kyoto Protocol.
Similar initiatives exist in Portland, Oregon and Austin, Texas. Small steps in a few liberal communities, sure. But you have to start somewhere.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
"Carbon tax" in the US?
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2 comments:
Hey Simon, you might be interested in this petition:
http://www.gopetition.com/online/10170.html
It asks the Fed. Gov. to promote cycling as a preferred means of transportation.
I have it in the back of my mind to start a "raise the taxes on gas" petition as well.
Take care.
Beautiful - a $16 per year per household isn't exactly going to break the bank.
Make the tax revenue-neutral (ie, reduce another tax by the equivalent amount, or refund the revenue annually on a per capita basis) and I don't see why this wouldn't fly at the national level.
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