The four argued:[35]. Court of Appeals | OFM uses a model assuming "a carbon tax would incentivize both buyers and sellers of unspecified power to identify the carbon content of this power.". The support campaign had spent $3,183,387.43, more than the amount raised due to using loans. [28], As of January 12, 2017, the ballot question committees registered to oppose this initiative received in-kind donations in the amount of $14,545.71. Initiative 732 would have established a tax on carbon emissionsat $15 per metric ton of emissions in July 2017, $25 in July 2018, and then 3.5 percent plus inflation each year until the tax reaches $100 per metric ton. Rather, about 36 percent of non-coal unspecified power would become specified in 2018 and 73 percent in 2020. Five questions were contested between the three parties, including: How each organization responded to these issues is briefly summarized in the table below: Supporters of initiatives to the legislature were required to submit at least 246,372 valid signatures per version in 2016. Lee also criticized how the carbon tax mostly decreased corporate income taxes to remain revenue-neutral. A new carbon emission tax would start July 1, 2017. [72], Alberta, another Canadian province, implemented a carbon tax in 2017. 1 (3) The proceeds of the carbon pollution tax are not intended to 2 be used for highway purposes and must be deposited into the state 3 general fund pursuant to RCW 82.32.380. Washington Carbon Emission Tax and Sales Tax Reduction, Initiative 732 (2016), Carbon Washington's "Yes On I-732: We're the ones we've been waiting for", Carbon Washington's "I732 - To Protect Our Future", Carbon Washington's "Let's take a swing at Climate Change!". Washington families and kids deserve a safe environment with clean air and water and healthy forests. The sales tax is imposed on retail sales of most articles of personal property, digital products, and some services. The Sierra Club is grappling with a backlash from Washington state members over a decision to withhold support for Initiative 732, the carbon-tax measure on the November ballot. Specifically, the measure was intended to decreases the sales and business and occupation tax rates and increase tax credits for low-income households in exchange for revenue created by the carbon tax. The OFM underestimated Washington's greenhouse gas output and therefore underestimated carbon tax revenue. These results are automatically generated from Google. Taxes. It would reduce the sales tax rate by one percentage point over two years, increase a low-income sales tax exemption, and reduce certain manufacturing taxes. I-732 fights climate change by making big polluters pay. According to the New York Times, "British Columbia’s economy did not collapse. In Washington State in 2015, two different initiative campaigns are gathering signatures for initiatives to the legislature in 2016. No, [I-732] is not perfect. Washington is already starting to reduce carbon emissions. Washington voted for the Democratic candidate in all five presidential elections between 2000 and 2016. The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Washington carbon tax. Climate extremes are becoming more intense: heat waves, droughts and fires on one hand, and more extreme rainfall, floods and storms on the other. The commercial and industrial sectors in Washington emit 18 percent less carbon than they did 26 years ago – despite a 260 percent growth in the state economy over that same period. We feel strongly that we had to do this. [8], Climate Solutions issued a statement on April 21, 2016, explaining their position. Their approach would be worse than what is on Washington’s ballot. The data for the results on this site are reported by the Associated Press through the week of Nov. 8, 2016. Revenue from this source would be $40.5 million per year. The four-year revenue increase of taxing exported power would be $376 million. It would impose a new "carbon emission tax" that applies to the sale or use of certain fossil fuels and electricity generated from fossil fuels. Elements of the coalition that environmentalists have assembled want “green jobs” programs, initiatives aimed specifically at communities of color, infrastructure that labor unions favor, and so forth. I-732 changes that. Emissions were the lowest in 2011 than in any year since 1990. That means tackling climate change now and leaving them a cleaner, healthier, safer world. This November, Washingtonians will have the chance to vote on a carbon tax: Citizens’ Initiative 732. Initiative 732 would incentive clean-energy technology competition and accelerate the transition to renewable energy by putting a tax on fossil fuels. 732). Other arguments in support of the measure included: Cliff Mass, Professor of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Washington, Howard Behar, former President of Starbucks, Sharon Nelson, former Chairman of the Washington Utility Commission and Consumer Reports, former Senate Majority Leader Bill Finkbeiner (R), Rogers Weed, former Director of the Washington State Department of Commerce, and Ramez Naam wrote the argument in support of Initiative 732 found in the state's voter guide. Household electricity costs to increase period would be reduced again, to 5.5 percent 3,183,387.43, more 580,000! `` impact a carbon tax, either estimated carbon tax can do help! Polluting fossil fuels not the same direction environmental groups are part of the tax rate would increase state and! Up to $ 350 million or 1.1 to 1.6 percent per year. 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