Farrell, Thanks for the comment. It is interestin...

2009-08-13T19:23:25.636-04:00

Farrell,

Thanks for the comment. It is interesting that this debate is getting aired again and perhaps you're right that there's new support from some in industry for a carbon tax.

Still, I count myself as rather skeptical about that. To me, unless, as you suggest, cap and trade crashes and burns in the implementation phase, or if the current drive for action gets halted, I can't see the momentum for cap-and-trade getting overtaken at this point.

Jim

The ongoing debate between Cap & Trade vs. Car...

2009-08-13T18:35:10.079-04:00

The ongoing debate between Cap & Trade vs. Carbon Tax is not yet moot and may not be decided by the passage of ACES.

In fact, a Carbon Tax may well become a viable "Plan B" should the C&T provision of ACES be further diluted by the Senate or in conference committee.

Many anti-C02 warriors are concerned about the "take it or leave" approach of some environmental and green energy groups to ACES.

Today's Wall Street Journal has a thought-provoking article on this controversy.

Note that the originator of C&T, Thomas Crocker, has lost confidence in his own innovative idea and now supports a Carbon Tax.

Crocker prefers "an outright tax on emissions because it would be easier to enforce and provide needed flexibility to deal with the problem". Crocker further argues that "once a cap is in place, it is very difficult to adjust".

Two other prominent C&T thinkers, John Dales (now deceased) and David Montgomery, are equally skeptical.

That Crocker and other C&T theorists no longer support this approach and opt instead for a Carbon Tax is a significant shift in thinking. Now add Al Gore and Dr. Jim Hansen to this growing list of Carbon Tax advocates and a Carbon Tax may become more politically palatable for industry.

The fact that the WSJ devotes a half page to discussing this controversy suggests that important segments of American business may be considering a simpler tax rather than a cumbersome trading scheme.

Regardless, the Cap & Trade vs. Carbon Tax discussion will continue in Nashua on November 19 (18 days before Copenhagen).

Several Carbon Tax advocates will be making presentations at a full-day conference: Clean.Green.Renewable: Planning New Hampshire's Energy Future.

Details: info@CleanGreenRenewable.org.

--Farrell S. Seiler, Chairman
Carbon Action Alliance
PO Box 693
Littleton, NH 03561

Comments on Granite Viewpoint: Cap and trade vs. a carbon tax

Farrell, Thanks for the comment. It is interestin...

The ongoing debate between Cap & Trade vs. Car...