This week’s writer is Fran Putnam of Weybridge, who is active in weatherization and energy efficiency efforts in the local community.
The recent launch of an effort to put a price on carbon pollution in Vermont is a forward-looking, smart economic strategy. A growing, diverse coalition of businesses, low-income organizations, environmental groups and citizens have looked hard at the benefits, costs and potential policy framework for taking this step.
The results of the independent economic analysis they commissioned to understand the impacts of a carbon pollution tax was undertaken by Regional Economic Models (REMI), a firm often hired by the state of Vermont. It is a well-crafted policy that can reduce Vermont’s fossil fuel use, add jobs and stimulate our economy in a way that is equitable for all Vermonters.
On the surface, it might seem odd to believe that an assessment on carbon pollution could stimulate our economy. Understanding how this tax would work is crucial to understanding the proposal.
Currently, most of the money Vermonters spend on fossil fuels goes out of state to large corporations, doing little for our economy. The report highlights that, in2012, Vermonters bought over $1.2 billion worth of gasoline with only about 25 percent of this value remaining in the state through retail sales and distribution.
That equates to a loss of $900 million to imports from other states, countries, and continents (nearly 3 percent of GSP). According to the independent REMI analysis: “Reducing these imports could ‘keep more dollars local,’ grow the Vermont economy, and create more jobs.”
One of the reasons pricing carbon pollution in Vermont would work well is that all of the proceeds from it would stay in Vermont. 
As currently conceptualized: A full 90 percent of the revenue would be returned to Vermonters in the form of rebates and tax relief, half to individuals and half to businesses, governmental agencies and nonprofits.
The remaining 10 percent would be dedicated to helping Vermonters and Vermont businesses make investments in clean energy solutions, such as weatherization improvements, renewable energy, transportation efficiency, etc.
Special attention would be given to lower-income Vermonters to address the fact that they pay a higher percentage of their income on gasoline and fuel oil than other Vermonters. The proposal currently envisions twice as many dollars going back to lower-income Vermonters, potentially partially as a rebate and partially as more immediate dollars.
Importantly, this plan would be phased in over a 10-year period, giving people the opportunity to adjust and make the energy-saving investments that will, ultimately, save them far more over time. The maximum cost of one scenario would have the pollution price rise to 45 cents in the 10th year; that’s far less money than we expended recently, when the cost of gasoline was near the $4-per-gallon mark.
Should Vermont be the first state to put a price on carbon pollution? If we believe that economic stimulation is good for our state, and we want to help Vermonters make the homes, businesses and vehicles more energy efficient, I say yes. This is a plan to take seriously.
It’s also important to note that this is not a new approach. Places like British Columbia have had such a policy in place since 2008, and they are meeting their objectives. It is also a policy that a growing number of high-profile conservative economic experts are promoting. For instance, Henry Paulson, treasury secretary under George W. Bush, supports it. Republican strategist George Shultz, who served as Ronald Reagan’s secretary of state and Richard Nixon’s secretary of labor, also supports such a tax.
The REMI study and the carbon-pricing proposal is a good starting point for a far-reaching discussion. I hope those debating its merits will look at the details, including the REMI study, which can be found by clicking on the REMI logo at the following website: www.energyindependentvt.org.
This is a bold approach, but in difficult times, we cannot afford to wait for others to take the lead. And, we must let facts — not fear — drive the debate. Vermont is already experiencing major climate changes, and the future does not look bright. We know doing business as usual is not working. It’s time to tackle this problem at the policy level, and a serious discussion about putting a price on carbon should be part of the mix.