Talk:Boulder, CO Citizens Pass First Carbon Tax in Nation

Summary:

City of Boulder voters approved Initiative 202, the Climate Action Plan Tax, on Tuesday, making this the first time in the nation that a municipal government will impose an energy tax on its residents to directly combat global warming. The tax will be collected by the local electric utility company based on the amount of electricity used.

This energy tax is also referred to as a carbon tax since most of Boulder's electricity comes from the burning of coal which is directly related to carbon or greenhouse gas emissions. The tax will be used to fund the city's Climate Action Plan, which was approved by City Council in June 2006.

The average household will pay $1.33 per month and an average business will pay $3.80 per month. The tax will generate about $1 million annually through 2012 when the tax is set to expire. Estimated energy cost savings from implementing the Climate Action Plan are $63 million over the long term.

Boulder's City Council adopted the goals of the Kyoto Protocol in 2002 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions seven percent below 1990 levels by 2012. The Climate Action Plan is a roadmap to meet the Kyoto goal and was created by staff, energy experts in the community and local stakeholders. The main strategies are to increase energy efficiency, promote renewable energy and alternative vehicle fuels, and reduce vehicle miles traveled.

Boulder's Mayor Mark Ruzzin signed the Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement along with 328 other mayors from around the nation representing over 53.2 million people. This agreement promotes strong policy resolutions calling for cities, communities and the federal government to take actions to reduce global warming pollution.