Carbon tax would benefit households

A recent letter from Mr. Floyd Freeman opposed a carbon tax as a tax on the poor. Just the opposite is true. A proposed carbon tax under discussion in the Senate would begin at $15 per ton and rise annually, would be assessed at the source and would affect the cost of fossil fuel energy across the economy.

At the same time, the revenues collected would in fact be returned to households, in large part buffering most from rising energy costs. Businesses would not get payments. The initial impact would be small but would signal to businesses the cost of relying on fossil fuel will rise.

Businesses would be motivated to seek other energy sources, thus promoting renewable energy.

By paying households, the policy would be popular and last long enough to bring an end to fossil fuel. Consumers could spend the money as they wish. The basic principle in national climate action would be the cost of fossil fuel to businesses must rise to push the transition to renewable energy, and consumers should be protected in the interim.

Laura Haule

Warrenville