Cap & Trade versus Carbon Tax
The carbon challengeI've long been a fan of a gas tax that puts a bottom on gas prices around $3.00, while providing tax credits for the buyers of efficient vehicles, such as hybrid cars. With the IEA now predicting no recovery in oil prices for the next year, gas prices are probably set for a significant pullback after the summer driving season. Eventually, as we claw our way out of this recession, an uptick in gas-guzzler sales might thus be imminent.
The current administration has not been supportive of a gas tax, but it has been very supportive of a CO2 cap and trade program. Yet, many claim that giving Congress control of trillions worth of CO2 waivers could be a dangerous exercise in Congressional pork-barreling. Thus, CNBC is featuring a special Carbon Challenge this week.
Today, CNBC asked which is better: cap & trade versus a carbon tax. Any thoughts?
Labels: cap and trade, gas tax, Hybrid Vehicles
posted by Dahcredyns at
10:04 AM
8 Comments:
We need to mandate that a continuously growing percentage of electric power produced in the US be carbon neutral. And we also need to mandate that a continuously growing percentage of transportation fuels in this country be composed of carbon neutral synthetic gasoline, diesel fuel, and jet fuel.
Carbon taxes could then be placed on those utilities and fuels that fail to meet the mandated percentages.
http://newpapyrusmagazine.blogspot.com/
So, does that mean that you are not in favor of cap and trade?
It's not just the IEA report, but the fact that oil inventories are at a 19 year high.
on the gas tax i would 100% oppose it, it hurts people like me. yes i drive a suv however i need it(no its not a pimped out escalade or something that i just cruise in but a down to earth 96 blazer 4x4) i need to be able to to get my family around and the 4wd really helps in ohio winters. not to mention i haul alot of stuff, such as materials for work on my house(windows are like 50 years old and kill me on gas bills, no insulation same on gas bills and still has aluminum wiring *shudders*) i had a cavalier and trust me i couldnt do that in a cavalier =/ a gas taxs hurts people that actually need things such as trucks and suv's and those are typically the working class of do it yourselfers
Given the choices, I am in favor of a gas tax over the CO2 cap and trade program.
The spending spree of the current Administration and Congress scare me to no end. The last thing that we need is giving them the control of trillions more.
a guy that knows something-
what if the gas tax provided tax credits that would help you buy a new hybrid version of your vehicle?
also, i assume you agree that foreign oil dependency is a danger to US national security. if not a gas tax, how do we end this dependence?
im not fond of hybrids at all, even if they gave me a credit i would be weary mearly for that fact that i know how much the batterys cost and i cant replace it myself(i work on all my own vehicles to save myself money), the higher year cost of ownership, and that they really dont have nearly the towing power. now i will agree that we need to not rely on foreign oil i think the options are e85 and hydrogen, honda has hydrogen vehicles on the road right now im not sure why its taking the domestics so long since they have been working on it for awhile now and e85(or better yet e95 since e100 is very hard to make due to trying to keep water out of the mix) only costs a little more in vehicle manufacturing in higher flow fuel injectors and fuel pump. however until that point is reached the U.S. needs to take control of oil price and oil production, opec nations rely on the U.S for roughly 70% of there food due to not being able to grow it themselves and most other contrys such as russia or china that are in heavy need of it have trouble growing enough for themselves let alone exporting we can control the cost of oil by controlling the cost of there food. it may seem cruel but the fact that they have the rest of the world pretty much held hostage is also cruel, simply tell them "you gona cut production so you sell gas for $3 a gallon instead of $2 a gallon?" "fine well a loaf of bread just went from $1 to $20" it might take a couple weeks but they will quickly run out of food and be willing to negotiate and would be better for the U.S.(and the world) in the long run. obviously asking them not to cut production dosnt work and they have announced they where cutting production purposly to keep prices high. the whole global economy/relations thing is all one giant chess game and the u.s. need to quit using only pawns so that everyone will love them and make it known we arnt gona be bullied just so people will be our "friends"
that's fair, in terms of your disinterest in hybrids, although GM's dual mode hybrids retain most of their towing capability, so a tahoe or silverado hybrid could probably fulfill your needs. of course, you still wouldn't be able to work on it yourself and that's a fair point.
also, the best hydrogen vehicles would almost certainly be fuel cell hybrid vehicles. toyota, and I know you don't like toyota, but toyota's hybrid synergy drive is used both by the prius and toyota's fuel cell vehicle. thus, hybrids can help get us to hydrogen quicker.
and US automakers have well developed fuel cell vehicles. i've driven GM's Chevy Equinox fuel cell vehicle several times and i think GM could easily match Honda's Clarity program - in terms of sales - without much effort.
in regards to E85. thus far, I can't get behind it. if we can achieve semi-cost effective cellulosic ethanol, then i would be a firm supporter. still, if there were a gas tax, for instance, it would make E85 cheaper compared to gasoline, as it would be an oil-based tax.
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