Opinion: ‘Carbon cash-back’ offers families a gift as we strive to reach net zero

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • May 5, 2021

A solution to the climate crisis that pays families? What a gift that would be! The idea is out there in Congress. It would price carbon fuels at their source and throughout the economy, based upon their emissions. That would, of course, raise prices at the pump or store. But all the money raised from the coal oil and gas producers would return to the economy with “carbon cash-back” dividends going to every household. This kind of solution is now gaining acceptance by business groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Business Roundtable and even the American Petroleum Institute. Almost everyone, even these business-friendly organizations, clearly recognizes that climate change is real, is accelerating and is costing us big bucks. So they advocate for “market-based carbon pricing.” ~ Peter Garrett, Maine state coordinator of the Citizens Climate Lobby, Winslow