Author: billboyd
Yoram Bauman, co-chair of the Yes on 732 campaign, recently had a lively exchange with Jeff Johnson, president of the Washington State Labor Council, at a debate sponsored by Bellingham City Club. Both presented their views on Initiative 732 — Bauman supporting its effectiveness in reducing carbon emissions and increasing tax fairness, and Johnson explaining why he opposes it. Watch the debate.
Seattle-based Fox News Channel reporter Dan Springer recently covered the opposition I-732 has attracted from several environmental groups. Watch his report.
Springer mentions that I-732 was recently endorsed by Audubon Washington. “We are thrilled to have Audubon Washington, an organization with a steadfast commitment to conservation and environmental protection, supporting the Yes on I-732 campaign,” said Joe Ryan, campaign co-chair. “Audubon has been at the forefront of research and awareness related to the devastation global warming will have on birds and other wildlife. The clear human impact of increased drought, wildfires, sea level rise, and other damaging impacts of climate change underscores the moral urgency to take climate action now. We are eager to work together to pass I-732.”
Sightline Institute, a sustainability think tank, has addressed the criticisms by I-732’s opponents. Their conclusion: “. . . for us at Sightline, and judged exclusively on the basis of policy, not politics or political strategy, the policy’s flaws are cause for concern but are dwarfed by I-732’s potential benefits.”
Speak Up! Speak Out! — a weekly radio show committed to community, peace, justice, and non-violence issues — recently interviewed I-732 campaign co-director Kyle Murphy. The program airs on community radio stations in Mt. Vernon, Bellingham, Friday Harbor and Olympia. Kyle and program host Jodie Buller discuss the grassroots energy behind the initiative, how it fights poverty and makes the state’s tax code more fair, and why it’s urgent to pass the measure in November.
PRESS RELEASE
Seattle – August 2, 2016 – Sightline Institute (http://www.sightline.org/), a widely respected sustainability think tank, launched a series of research papers designed to offer Washington voters an “impartial and informed” analysis of Initiative 732 (https://yeson732.org/), the first-ever citizen ballot initiative to put a price on carbon anywhere in the United States.
The first paper states, “I-732 would give Washington the continent’s, if not the world’s, most potent, persistent, and comprehensive incentive to move swiftly beyond dirty fossil fuels and to a carbon-free future.”
The second paper examines the question of revenue-neutrality and concludes that “the tax swap is revenue-neutral.”
The third paper evaluates the arguments against I-732 and finds, “the policy’s flaws are … dwarfed by I-732’s potential benefits.”
PRESS RELEASE
Sustainability think tank concludes I-732 is “a worthy policy to put Washington on a path to cutting pollution and encouraging clean energy while also helping low-income families by making Washington State taxes less regressive” and that criticism about revenue-neutrality “is a red herring”
Seattle – August 2, 2016 – Sightline Institute (http://www.sightline.org/), a widely respected sustainability think tank, launched a series of research papers designed to offer Washington voters an “impartial and informed” analysis of Initiative 732 (https://yeson732.org/), the first-ever citizen ballot initiative to put a price on carbon anywhere in the United States.
The first paper — Weighing CarbonWA’s Tax Swap Ballot Initiative: Washington climate hawks’ guide to the pros and cons of I-732 — states, “I-732 would give Washington the continent’s, if not the world’s, most potent, persistent, and comprehensive incentive to move swiftly beyond dirty fossil fuels and to a carbon-free future.”
The second paper — Does I-732 Really Have A “Budget Hole”?: To the digit that anyone can accurately forecast, the tax swap is revenue-neutral — examines the question of revenue-neutrality and concludes that “the tax swap is revenue-neutral.”
The third paper — Weighing The Critiques Of CarbonWA’s I-732: Three points of contention in Washington’s fight for a carbon-free future — evaluates the arguments against I-732 and finds, “the policy’s flaws are … dwarfed by I-732’s potential benefits.”
The Sightline analysis comes on the heels of Audubon Washington’s endorsement of I-732, which describes the policy as “swift and effective action to reduce carbon pollution and help mitigate the impacts of climate change.”
Yes On 732 campaign co-chair Yoram Bauman recently took to the stage to explain how Initiative 732 really works — and why voters should support it in November. As the world’s only “stand-up economist,” Yoram brings a healthy dose of humor to his presentation, along with some easy-to-follow explanations of how I-732 is good for Washington and good for the climate. Click on “More” to enjoy.
Audubon Washington — the statewide chapter of the National Audubon Society — has announced its support for I-732.
“Climate change is a threat to birds and people, and a carbon tax is a proven solution to reduce greenhouse gases,” said Gail Gatton, executive director for Audubon Washington. “Not only will passing I-732 help reduce carbon pollution, but it will encourage clean sources of energy and secure a sustainable and prosperous future for our state. I-732 is the best option available today to protect birds from this threat, and we can’t afford to stand on the sidelines.”
Read “Why We Support I-732,” the Audubon news release, “Cutting Carbon Pollution” and Audubon’s “Take Action” page (where you can show your support for I-732!).
Over the past several weeks, we have received a lot of questions and complaints about various Public Utility Districts (PUDs) that have been distributing printed and online material regarding their opposition to Initiative 732. While it seems strange to many of you that a public utility can use ratepayer money to try to influence a political campaign, our state law, RCW 42.17A.555, does allow for this practice. A public utility commission can voice its opposition to an initiative, so long as they pass a public resolution and provide equal opportunity for the expression of both viewpoints.
RCW 42.20.040 does prohibit public officials from knowingly distributing a false report — so do keep sending us copies of any mailers or postings you receive, especially if you think there is purposefully misleading information. While utilities are allowed to distribute information about the policy, as well as their opinion, many of their statements do not seem to offer a balanced or complete description of the policy in I-732. We believe the intent of the law is to allow the utility to distribute balanced information and an opinion — not one-sided and partial descriptions of a policy proposal.
Some particular concerns include:
- It is one-sided to specifically talk about the carbon tax increase on utility customers while making no mention of the corresponding reductions in sales tax, B&O tax, and the Working Family Tax Rebate that I-732 will create.
- The cost to utility customers should be presented by quoting the rate impact (Cents/KWh) not aggregate dollars. Customers can relate to rate changes far easier than aggregate dollar figures, which appear to be utilized for shock value rather than informational purposes.
- If aggregate tax figures are presented, then the message should also include the aggregate sales tax savings customers within their territory can expect from the passage of I-732.
- Many utilities are quoting costs based on an analysis completed by the Washington PUD association. It assumes a rule-making process will increase the emission factor of non-declared electricity from the 1 metric ton of carbon per MWh (defined in section 7 of the legal language of I-732) to a value 18% higher to match other existing laws. If a public utility is distributing a cost estimate to its customers, it should be based on the legal language of the policy, not a hypothetical future change to the policy. This will avoid distributing incorrect information.
- Information distributed using public funds should be based on the state’s description of the policy, I-732’s legal language, official data sources, and the public meeting. They should not include campaign slogans or canned messages distributed by opposition organizations seeking to expand their reach using Public Utility Districts as free megaphones.
- Many utilities are quoting an outdated fiscal analysis indicating the passage of I-732 will decrease state revenue by $914M over 4 years. If a description of the state revenue analysis is included the most current OFM estimate of $797M over 6 years should be quoted. It should also cite the I-732 campaign’s official disagreement with the OFM assumptions. Including that one third of this projected tax decrease is based on the assumption that all non-declared electricity will be declared on the first day of implementation; something many PUD’s disagree with in the very same public statement.
- Some utilities are making statements that a carbon tax would not reduce carbon pollution. This is false, as there is clear empirical evidence from numerous studies that a similar price on carbon has created significant reductions in CO2 since implemented in British Columbia. Additionally both Regional Economic Models, INC (REMI) and the Northwest Power and Conservation Council modeled similar carbon taxes and determined it would create significant reductions in carbon emissions in Washington — including reductions in the electric sector.
- No utilities have contacted CarbonWA in advance of holding a public meeting, which we believe would be an appropriate good faith effort to achieve equal representation of the issue.
To our concerned supporters, we urge you to not lash out at your utilities because of their position. Just inform us if you think they are distributing false information. If you wish to provide a critique, please do so in a constructive and professional manner — everyone is entitled to their opinion.
We are all disappointed that many of our cleanest utilities, who will pay the least carbon tax of any energy providers in our state, have failed to recognize the competitive advantage I-732 creates for them. Instead, many have joined the predictable position of other energy providers opposing any tax on the product they sell. We hope PUDs will do a better job in the future to avoid promoting the misconception that their customers will have less money in their pocket because of I-732, when in reality most PUD customers likely come out financially ahead, not behind, due to this tax swap.
Rather than lashing out, a more constructive message to send your utility might be: Please reconsider your opposition to I-732. As your customer I am happy to pay more for electricity while paying less for everything else that is exposed to the state sales tax. More importantly, I believe it is essential that we pass an economy-wide price on carbon so the dirtiest polluters in our state are motivated to change their behavior and stop damaging the health and well-being of our children and future generations.
The cost of climate change is expected to reach $3.8 billion per year in Washington by 2020. These include cost that will directly affect utilities including: $150M in reduced hydropower generation, and $44M in increased transmission costs due to higher temperatures. The cost of inaction that your commission and other energy companies are promoting will create massive damage to our society, damage that can be reduced in a cost-effective manner by passing Initiative 732. I would appreciate your including the cost of inaction in any future information you distribute on this topic and hope you re-consider your position on I-732.
PRESS RELEASE
Washington State revenue-neutral carbon tax initiative attracts growing bipartisan support from leaders who are concerned about the damaging impacts of climate change
SEATTLE, July 12, 2016 – George Shultz (R), Former U.S. Secretary of State & Secretary of the Treasury, and U.S. Representative Jim McDermott (D), have each announced their endorsement of I-732, the country’s first revenue-neutral carbon tax initiative that will go before voters in the November general election. Shultz and McDermott join leaders on both sides of the aisle in their support of this fiscally conservative and socially progressive policy to protect our children and future generations from the negative impacts of climate change. A full list of endorsements can be found at https://yeson732.org/endorsements/.
“As the reality of climate change deepens, the urgency of taking action becomes more and more pressing,” writes Yes On 732 volunteer Alex Lenferna in the Seattle Globalist. “Fortunately, here in Washington, we have an opportunity to bend the arc towards climate stability when Initiative 732 appears on the ballot this November.
“I-732 is simple. It puts a fee on something we don’t want: greenhouse gas pollution. It then returns the revenue to Washingtonians by reducing taxes on families and businesses. It’s a simple tax swap, and the results could be remarkable.”
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