[Sustain] [mfeinstein at feinstein.org: [G-C-F] Who is interested in lobbying for a carbon tax in California?]

[Don Eichelberger]

Last fall I was lobbying the Peak Oil Task Force to call on the SF Board 
of Supervisors to oppose cap and trade and support a 2 cent a pound 
($40/ton) tax on carbon emitting transportation fuels. That's 40 cents a 
gallon for gasoline. They wouldn't touch anything that radical, and I 
soon left.

I am sure any tax would be better than no tax at all.  Although I would 
prefer to keep them as high as possible so there is a real incentive for 
reducing fuel use and slow over hot economies, and real money going 
toward funding the solutions.

 I am on vacation for July and may be traveling.  If I am in town, I 
will try to make it to that hearing and will let other people know of it.

Don

John-Marc Chandonia wrote:

>----- Forwarded message from Mike Feinstein <mfeinstein at feinstein.org> -----
>
>Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:56:18 -0700
>From: Mike Feinstein <mfeinstein at feinstein.org>
>To: GCF <cal-forum at marla.cagreens.org>
>Subject: [G-C-F] Who is interested in lobbying for a carbon tax in
>	California?
>
>Dear all
>
>As some of you recall from earlier discussions, the California 
>Commission on the 21st Century Economy is considering a carbon tax as 
>part of its final recommendations, which will be voted upon on July 16th 
>in San Francisco.
>
>http://www.cotce.ca.gov/meetings/
>
>That effort to institute a California carbon tax is being led by one of 
>the Commissioners Fred Keely, who is currently Santa Cruz Treasurer and 
>was formerly in the Assembly
>
>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Keeley'
>
>Unfortunately there has been very little public testimony at the COTCE 
>hearings - I was the only member of the public to speak at its February 
>hearing at UCLA and was one of two members of the public to speak at is 
>second UCLA-based hearing earlier this week.
>
>Here is a video of my February testimony
>
>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd1y_G7wZ4k
>
>The purpose of this email, is to find Greens who will help organize 
>voices from the environmental community across California to lobby the 
>Commission to include the carbon tax.
>
>Here is a web site with basic information about carbon taxes:
>
>http://www.carbontax.org/
>
>At the COTCE's March hearing, they heard this presentation about carbon 
>taxes:
>
>http://www.cotce.ca.gov/meetings/testimony/documents/BORENSTEIN.pdf
>
>Carbon and Energy Taxes as a Revenue Source for California": Severin 
>Borenstein, Director, U.C. Energy Institute, Professor, U.C. Berkeley 
>Haas School of Business
>
>The proposal that is now before the COTCE is a $20/ton carbon tax on 
>gas, diesel and jet fuel.  This would equal an 18 cents/gallon tax on 
>gasoline.
>
>$20/ton is VERY modest, but would be a fantastic start (by contrast, the 
>Green Party of Canada recommended a $50/ton carbon tax in last year's 
>Canadian Federal election 
>http://www.greenparty.ca/en/background/06.06.2007b )
>
>What I have learned thus far is that NONE of California's major 
>environmental groups have weighed in with COTCE on the carbon tax.
>
>What I am looking forward from all of you, is if you are personally 
>connected to the leadership of major environmental groups in California, 
>would you be willing to make contact with that leadership to explore 
>whether they would be willing to send in letters of support for the 
>carbon tax to the Commission.
>
>If you are able to identify people who are willing to do so, I would be 
>happy to faciliate their connection with Fred Keely and his support 
>staff, so they can coordinate on the content of their letters to the COTCE.
>
>Thanks
>
>Mike
>
>----- End forwarded message -----
>
>  
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