HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-25 Urging Congress to enact the energy innovation and carbon dividend act of 2019 1 RESOLUTION NO. 2019-25
2 A RESOLUTION URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO ENACT THE
3 ENERGY INNOVATION AND CARBON DIVIDEND ACT OF 2019
4 RECITALS
Whereas, an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issued a special report on the impacts
6 of global warming of 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels in October of 2018 warning that global
7 warming is likely to reach 1.5°C between 2030 and 2052 if it continues to increase at the current
8 rate; and
9 Whereas, the United Nations climate science body said in a monumental climate report that we
10 have only 12 years left to make massive and unprecedented changes to global energy
11 infrastructure to limit global warming to moderate levels; and
12 Whereas, the United States government released its Fourth Annual Climate Assessment in
13 November of 2018 reporting that the impacts of climate change are already being felt in
14 communities across the country, and that more frequent and intense extreme weather and
15 climate-related events, as well as changes in average climate conditions, are expected to continue
16 to damage infrastructure, ecosystems, and social systems that provide essential benefits to
17 communities; and
18 Whereas, conservative estimates by the world's climate scientists state that to achieve climate
19 stabilization and avoid cataclysmic climate change, emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs)must
20 be brought to 80-95%below 1990 levels by 2050; and
21 Whereas, presently the environmental, health, and social costs of carbon emissions are not
22 included in prices paid for fossil fuels, but rather these externalized costs are borne directly and
23 indirectly by all Americans and global citizens; and
24 Whereas, to begin to correct this market failure, Congress can enact the Energy Innovation and
25 Carbon Dividend Act to assess a national carbon fee on fossil fuels based on the amount of CO2
26 the fuel will emit when burned and allocate the collected proceeds to all U.S. Households in
27 equal shares in the form of a monthly dividend; and
28 Whereas, for efficient administration, the fossil fuels fee can be applied once, as far upstream in
29 the economy as practical, or at the port of entry into the United States; and
30 Whereas, as stated in the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2019, H.R. 763, a
RESOLUTION NO. 2019-25 Page 1 of 3
1 national, revenue-neutral carbon fee starting at a relatively low rate of$15 per ton of CO2
2 equivalent emissions and resulting in equal charges per ton of CO2 equivalent emissions
3 potential in each type of fuel or greenhouse gas should be assessed to begin to lower what are
4 now dangerously high CO2 emissions. The yearly increase in carbon fees including other
5 greenhouse gases, shall be at least$10 per ton of CO2 equivalent each year,with the Department
6 of Energy determining whether an increase larger than$10 per ton per year is needed to achieve
7 program goals; and
8 Whereas, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2019, H.R. 763, specifies that, in
9 order to protect low and middle income citizens from the economic impact of rising prices due to
10 the carbon fee, equal monthly per-person dividend payments shall be made to all American
11 households (Y2 payment per child under 19 years old) each month from the fossil fuel fees
12 collected. The total value of all monthly dividend payments shall represent 100% of the net
13 carbon fees collected per month; and
14 Whereas,the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2019, H.R. 763, encourages
15 market-driven innovation of clean energy technologies and market efficiencies which will reduce
16 harmful pollution and leave a healthier, more stable, and more prosperous nation for future
17 generations; and
18 Whereas, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2019, H.R. 763, will, after 12
19 years, lead to a decrease in America's CO2 emissions of 40 percent and an increase in national
20 employment of 2.1 million jobs; and
21 Whereas,border adjustments - carbon content-based tariffs on products imported from countries
22 without comparable carbon pricing, and refunds to our exporters of carbon fees paid- can
23 maintain the competitiveness of U.S. businesses in global markets; and
24 Whereas, a national carbon fee can be implemented quickly and efficiently, and will respond to
25 the urgency of the climate crisis because the federal government already has in place
26 mechanisms, such as the Internal Revenue Service, needed to implement and enforce the fee, and
27 already collects fees from fossil fuel producers and importers; and
28 Whereas, a national revenue-neutral carbon fee would make the United States a leader in
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29 mitigating climate change and in the clean energy technologies of the 21st century and would
30 provide incentive to other countries to enact similar carbon fees,reducing global CO2 emissions
RESOLUTION NO. 2019-25 Page 2 of 3
1 without the need for complex international agreements.
2 NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ASHLAND, OREGON,
3 RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
4 Section 1. The City Council of the City of Ashland, Oregon,urges the United States Congress to
5 enact without delay the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2019, H.R. 763.
6 Section 2. The City Administrator, no later than thirty(30) days after passage of this Resolution
7 No. 2019-25, shall transmit, or cause to be transmitted, copies of this resolution to the President
8 and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives,to the
9 Majority Leader of the Seriate, to each U.S. Senator and Representative from the State of Oregon
10 in the Congress of the United States, and to nearby city and county governments urging that they
11 pass similar resolutions.
12 Section 3. This resolution is effective upon adoption.
13 This resolution was duly PASSED and ADOPTED this (i'' day of b5,4 2019, and takes
14 effect upon signing by the Mayor.
15
17 Melissa Huhtala, City Recorder
18 SIGNED and APPROVED this tfirL day of Ltd-72019.
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22
John Stromberg, ayor
23 Reviewed as to form:
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25 /17/(f.a 26 David Lohman, City Attorney
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