First Name | Barry |
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Last Name | Vesser |
Email Address | bvesser@climateprotection.org |
Affiliation | Center for Climate Prtoection |
Subject | Comments on the 2017 Climate Change Scoping Plan Update for Achieving California’s 2030 Gr |
Comment | Thank you for the opportunity to comment. The Center for Climate Protection has been working since 2006 to encouraged the State Legislature and California Air Resources Board (ARB) to return most of the auction proceeds to the public following the Cap & Dividend model. California has shown leadership on climate change by creating a price on carbon. It can improve the program in its next phase, and perhaps gain supporters for the program’s extension, by eliminating subsidies to the fossil fuel industry and returning Cap & Trade revenues back to people as climate dividends. Currently a large portion of Cap & Trade funds go to high-speed rail and transit-oriented development. Emission reductions from these areas are not expected to materialize for several decades. A better approach would be to return the funds back to people as a climate dividend. The California Climate Credit showing up twice a year on electricity bills is a good start. The state could expand that to an off-bill per capita dividend that would be simple, transparent, and be inclusive of disadvantaged communities not just coastal cities. Many people do not understand climate dividends. It is about transforming the economic system, not just about funding specific projects. I urge ARB staff to read Peter Barnes’ books Who Owns the Sky and Capitalism 3.0. The fear of “leakage” has led to the fossil fuel industry receiving millions of permits for free (even though they mostly oppose the program). The Petroleum Refining, Natural Gas Extraction, and Cement sectors received over 49 million free allowances in 2016. At $12.73 per allowance, that subsidy is worth over $629 million per year. Reducing or eliminating this subsidy would help bolster demand which has been lagging in recent permit auctions. Thank you for your consideration. |
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Date and Time Comment Was Submitted | 2017-04-10 12:40:27 |
If you have any questions or comments please contact Clerk of the Board at (916) 322-5594.