Carbon fee and dividend a win-win
Re: “Bill seeks new fees on solar and wind,” Front Page, March 30:
I have worked for years as a volunteer for the Citizens’ Climate Lobby, an organization advocating for legislation to curtail the greenhouse gas emissions that are so damaging to our economic well-being and the well-being of all Earth’s ecosystems.
The organization supports placing a fee on carbon and returning the funds collected as an equal monthly dividend to each citizen — a carbon fee and dividend.
Interestingly, there has been little traction for support among Republicans, who claim this would be “picking sides.” Imagine my dismay to see that Texas Republicans are encouraging placing a fee on green energy to prop up fossil fuels — just the opposite of what is needed for a resilient future.
How, I ask my Republican friends, is this not picking sides? A true market approach, one that levels the playing field, would account for the externalities (carbon pollution) of fossil fuel use. A carbon fee and dividend like the one in HR 2307, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2021, recently reintroduced in the 177th Congress, would accomplish this goal.
The San Antonio Express-news Editorial Board endorsed the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act when it was introduced in the 116th Congress. In fact, three editorials were published in support of it: on Oct. 10, 2019, Dec. 9, 2019, and Jan. 27, 2020.
When enacted into law, this bill will place a fee on greenhouse gas emissions, starting at $15 per metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalents, and return the money collected to citizens as a carbon cash back dividend. Each year, the fee would increase by $10 per ton or more if specific reduction goals are not being achieved.
Everyone receives the same amount in their carbon cash back dividend, to use as they see fit. Most Americans will either come out slightly ahead of increased costs or break even. What this bill will do is drive down greenhouse gas emissions and make significant contributions to the goal of netzero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
This legislation deserves bipartisan support. Democrats should like that emission targets are met and low-income citizens are shielded from elevated costs by receiving their carbon cash-back dividend. Republicans should support this bill because it allows freedom of choice and marketdriven reductions without the need for a heavy regulatory hand on the scales.
Reporting in the Express-news and elsewhere shows the problems caused by the February freeze here in San Antonio and throughout the state were not a result of reliance on green energy. Rather, they were the result of a lack of planning and follow-through from similar previous disasters.
Our future response to the climate crisis must consider adaptation and resilience along with mitigation, and this requires leadership rather than political party squabbles. A bipartisan approach can be achieved through HR 2307, which is good for people, the economy and the environment.