[GreenYes] Mayor Bloomberg supports Pigovian fees on carbon emissions

["Reindl, John" <Reindl@no.address>]

Title: Mayor Bloomberg supports Pigovian fees on carbon emissions

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg proposed a national "pollution pricing" plan Friday that would tax companies directly for the greenhouse gases they release. Bloomberg suggested a fee of $15 for every ton of greenhouse gas companies emit, with the money used to reduce payroll taxes and finance tax credits for companies that reduce their greenhouse gas pollution. He also said another carbon-reduction approach known as cap-and-trade, which many Democratic candidates have endorsed, is a flawed solution and could create bidding wars.

I also believe that a cap-and-trade approach is wrong, as it essentially grants polluters a right to pollute up to the limits of their permit. I believe that no one should have any right to pollute and should be required to pay for any pollution that they discharge.

A news story on Mayor Bloomberg's position can be found on the internet at http://edition.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/11/03/bloomberg.emissions.ap/index.html

John