If Governor-elect wants affordability, energy independence, and a 90% renewable Vermont by 2050, he should seriously keep an open mind on carbon pricing. This is no time to be divisive - a carbon pollution tax if designed well can lower the cost of living in Vermont, and retrieve some of the $1.6 billion dollars we send out of VT to buy fossil fuels. I just found this booklet, "Tax Reform that Agrees with Vermont", that includes insight on how to price pollution, put together by The Vermont Fair Tax Coalition - in 1999. Time to get a move on, VT! Thank you, Rep. Mary Sullivan, for not backing down, and for doing exactly what you should in the face of a Trump administration.
Re: “Vermont Lawmakers Float Carbon-Combating Proposals”
@ Grant Christiansen:
I call BS too. You say the fossil fuel industry in Vermont is already "regulated to death," and then you say the regulations are working to drive the businesses to adopt cleaner fuels and energy efficiency. A price on carbon pollution won't kill the industry tomorrow - in the face of our alternative universe federal administration, a price on carbon will keep us from moving back decades. The more the fuel dealers welcome the energy transition, the more they choose life for their industry, and the more they will benefit too from carbon pollution tax revenues. This should make sense to you, since you alluded to it yourself.
As a 23-year-old, climate action for me is not simply about "feeling good." Young people, poor people, disabled people will pay the price of climate inaction, and already are.