I realize the BEST list-serv is not intended for political messages, yet since Ms. Chavez mentioned a lobby group for a fossil fuel industry, I am replying with information about a revenue neutral carbon tax proposal and a recent economic study indicating a positive impact of this approach.

Established in 1980, Regional Economic Models, Inc. (REMI) is a leading provider of economic analysis and policy forecasting models, as well as consulting services. REMI has prepared a study for the Citizens' Climate Lobby on the potential economic and fiscal effects of a national carbon tax. REMI, in partnership with Synapse Energy Economics, Inc., projected the effects of a tax that would start with a rate of $10 per metric ton of carbon dioxide, increasing $10 per ton each year.

If the resulting revenue is refunded to households, the returned money would help add 2.1 million jobs to the U.S. economy over 10 years. The program would also save 13,000 lives a year through air quality improvements, and emissions would fall by 33 percent, according to the study. The findings were discussed in columns and blog posts, including at The Huffington Post and The Guardian.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-reynolds/new-study-shows-no-more-e_b_5470057.html 

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2014/jun/13/how-revenue-neutral-carbon-tax-creates-jobs-grows-economy

Thank you BEST community for your good efforts to develop alternative energy systems.  Kathleen Pagan, Alachua County Senior Planner

-----Original Message-----
From: Bioenergy and Sustainable Technology Society [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Chavez,Natalie
Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2014 10:37 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: America's regulations to reduce carbon pollution by 30%

Hi BEST members,

The Obama administration revealed rules that will regulate carbon pollution from power plants by 30 percent. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) formally announced the new regulations on power plants which are the largest source of carbon dioxide emissions, nearly 40 percent. The regulations would reduce carbon pollution from power plants by 2030. The climate crisis we are experiencing is heading in the right direction but there has been a backlash about these new rules. A lobby group for the coal industry, which will be affected the most, said the rules would hurt the economy and can lead America to an energy crisis. 
The rules could affect 1,600 plants which many are about 50 years old. 
But overall the rules could increase pollution savings and even lower medical bills.

The EPA will set individual reductions target for each state and they will have until 2016 to plan a strategy to meet the targets. This is an essential step to dealing with the problem of climate change. We can switch to a cleaner-burning natural gas, form cap-and-trade markets, and this opens up to using more renewable energy.

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jun/02/obama-rules-coal-climate-change

"Obama Unveils Historic Rules to Reduce Coal Pollution by 30%." Suzanne Goldenberg. The Guardian.
June 3 2014

Thanks,

Natalie Chavez
Undergraduate Intern
2014 BioEnergy & Sustainability School
Soil and Water Science Department
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