Fiscal Note
No City appropriation required.
Title
Urging the United States Congress to enact the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2021 (H.R.2307)
Body
WHEREAS, on June 12, 2012, the Common Council approved the Madison Sustainability Plan, which includes the goals of improving air quality, storm water management, reductions in transportation-related carbon impacts, obtaining 25% of electricity, heating, and transportation energy from clean energy sources by 2025, and helping businesses transition to the Green / Cleantech economy; and,
WHEREAS, the United States government released its Fourth Annual Climate Assessment in November 2018, reporting that the impacts of climate change are already being felt in communities across the country, and that more frequent and intense extreme weather and climate-related events, as well as changes in average climate conditions, are expected to continue to damage infrastructure, ecosystems, and social systems that provide essential benefits to communities; and,
WHEREAS, the United Nations climate science body said in a monumental climate report that we have only until 2030 to make massive and unprecedented changes to global energy infrastructure to limit global warming to moderate levels; and,
WHEREAS, the United States Congress is currently considering the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2021 (H.R.2307), which would impose a fee on the carbon content of fuels, the fee to be deposited into a Carbon Dividend Trust Fund; and,
WHEREAS, in order to protect low-and-middle-income Americans from the economic impact of rising prices due to the carbon fee, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2021 (H.R.2307) specifies that equal monthly per person dividend payments shall be made to all American households (one-half payment per child under 19 years old) from the carbon fees collected. The total value of all monthly dividend payments shall represent 100% of the net carbon fees collected per month; and,
WHEREAS, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2021 (H.R.2307) will provide dividends from which 95% of low and middle-wealth Americans will come out ahead of rising prices due to the carbon fee, or essentially break even. For a family of four, the annual dividend is projected to be $2,974 after 4 years; and,
WHEREAS, based on a Columbia University report, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2021 (H.R.2307) will lead to a decrease in America’s CO2 emissions of 30 percent in five years relative to a 2005 baseline and will preserve national employment; and,
WHEREAS, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2021 (H.R.2307) encourages innovation of clean energy technologies and efficiencies which will reduce harmful pollution and leave a healthier, more stable, and more prosperous nation for future generations; and,
WHEREAS, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2021 (H.R.2307) will accelerate the achievement of the City of Madison’s sustainability goals; and,
WHEREAS, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2021 (H.R.2307) has been endorsed by Wisconsin 2nd District Congressman Mark Pocan, State Senator Melissa Agard, Dane County Branch of NAACP, 350 Madison, 1500 members of Citizens Climate Lobby Madison chapter, the Wisconsin State Journal, and many other groups and individuals from the Madison area;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Madison urges the United States Congress to enact without delay the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2021 (H.R.2307).
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City, no later than 30 days after passage of this Resolution, shall transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, to each U.S. Senator and Representative from the State of Wisconsin in the Congress of the United States, and to nearby city and county governments urging that they pass similar resolutions.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the City of Madison calls on other cities to join efforts to support the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2021 (H.R.2307), and the City of Madison calls on its federal delegation to include the strongest possible climate solutions in federal infrastructure legislation.