Tuesday, November 21, 2006

"Carbon tax" in the US?

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.

2 comments:

Tuco said...

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.

Anonymous said...

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.