From the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Mike Tidwell, director
Compiled and edited by Ted Glick, CCAN Policy Director
December 6, 2010
The Chesapeake Climate Action Network produces and distributes this periodic policy update on efforts to advance “cap and dividend” legislation in the U.S. Congress. The fight for this climate policy is currently being led on Capitol Hill by Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Susan Collins (R-ME). Last December these Senators introduced the Carbon Limits and Energy for America’s Renewal Act, or CLEAR Act, S-2877. Learn more at http://www.supportclearact.org.
In This Issue:
#1 Should Carbon Pricing Advocates Support the Cap-and-Dividend Bill?, by James Handley
#2 Tax Pollution, Not People, by Robert Malin
#3 Clean Coal: Climate Solution or Oxymoron?, by Marc Gunther
#4 Global Warming Coming on Rapidly, Scientists Say, by Sherwood Ross
#5 From Politico Morning Energy, November 18th
#6 Quakers Present Cantwell with Peace Award
#7 Cap and Giveaway, by Cosmo Garvin
#1 Should Carbon Pricing Advocates Support the Cap-and-Dividend Bill, by James Handley: “The [Carbon Pricing] Conference has sparked a flurry of substantive and strategic discussions. For example, cap-and-dividend advocate Peter Barnes is imploring us to align the Carbon Tax Center with the CLEAR cap-and-dividend bill introduced in December 2009 by Senators Cantwell (D-WA) and Collins (R-ME). Their cap-and-dividend concept is certainly a quantum improvement over the cap/trade/offset model that some of the mainstream environmental groups rode to defeat (again) in 2009-2010. Yet both the concept and the particulars of the CLEAR bill fall far short of what we at CTC believe is required in carbon-pricing legislation.”
#2 Tax Pollution, Not People, by Robert Malin: “It is clear we need a response that is equal to the real conditions on the ground both in terms of preserving our biosphere for life on the planet and politically where it is mired in the swamp of the US Senate. Taking this ‘back to basics’ direction are Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Susan Collins (R-ME) with the Carbon Limits and Energy for America’s Renewal (CLEAR) Act. However their bill needs improvement– the mandatory greenhouse gas limits are insufficient to set us on an emissions path which would reduce carbon concentrations to 350 ppm, a level that scientists say is needed to prevent the worst effects of climate change.”
For the full article go to: http://rifuture.org/tax-pollution-not-people.html
#3 Clean Coal: Climate Solution or Oxymoron?, by Marc Gunther: “The truth is banal but worth remembering: that no one can confidently predict the energy future. This would argue for an energy policy that avoids betting on any particular technology, but provides a broad incentive–i.e., a carbon tax or simple cap-and-dividend scheme–to drive investment in a low-carbon future.”
For the full article go to: http://theenergycollective.com/marcgunther/47280/clean-coal-climate-solution-or-oxymoron?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=The+Energy+Collective+%28all+posts%29&utm_content=Google+Reader
#4 Global Warming Coming on Rapidly, Scientists Say, by Sherwood Ross: “McKibben said the Congress has not yet taken any meaningful action on global warming, adding that it will come ‘the day we attach a price to carbon. So far we haven’t done that.’ He goes on to say, ‘I think the most likely plan is now what we’re calling Cap and Dividend, which in effect puts a tax on carbon and then takes that money and funnels it directly back to consumers. Basically, it lets them own the sky instead of Exxon-Mobil. That’s a good plan and it has some political legs, maybe, (anyway) we’ll see.’”
For the full article go to: http://www.americanpendulum.com/2010/11/global-warming-coming-on-rapidly-scientists-say-by-sherwood-ross/
#5 From Politico Morning Energy, November 18th: FUTURE DIVIDENDS – Sen. Maria Cantwell told POLITICO yesterday there might be room for the cap-and-dividend bill she co-sponsored with Susan Collins to make a comeback now that cap-and-trade has collapsed. “We just talked today on the floor about it and we’re going to get together and see,” she said. “I think we’re going to get to a point where people are going to say ‘Wow, the EPA is moving ahead, companies are being regulated in my state, geez is there a better way to do this?’ I don’t know what that will lead to but I know we’re going to get to that discussion.”
#6 Quakers Present Cantwell with Peace Award: “The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) (sometimes referred to as the Quakers) honored U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) with the organization’s highest legislative award for her work advancing comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation. In presenting the award, the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) identified Cantwell’s bipartisan Carbon Limits and Energy for America’s Renewal (CLEAR) Act as ‘a pathway to environmental balance and the peaceful prevention of deadly conflict.’”
For the full article go to: http://politicalnews.me/?id=6638&keys=Senator-Maria-Cantwell-CleanEnergy
#7 Cap and Giveaway, by Cosmo Garvin: “A CARB-assembled panel of economists and other experts earlier this year said exactly that: the system would work best if the state auctioned carbon allowances instead of giving them away. In fact, the committee even suggested a sort of ‘cap and dividend’ system by which taxpayers would get money from the fees collected, as part of their tax refunds. At the time, the state estimated it could collect more than $2 billion a year in revenue from the fees.”
For the full article go to: http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/content?oid=1873113
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. Send to Ted Glick at ted@chesapeakeclimate.org. To find out more about CCAN go to http://www.chesapeakeclimate.org.
