Marin CCL Newsletter
November 7, 2021
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CCL exists to create the political will for climate solutions by enabling individual breakthroughs in the exercise of personal and political power. -- Mission Statement
Down to the wire...Is this for real?
White House-Backed Carbon Tax in Sight for Biden’s Climate Bill
Bloomberg, Nov 6, 2021

"The White House and at least 49 senators support a proposal to impose an almost $20 per-ton fee on carbon as part of President Joe Biden’s climate-and-spending legislation, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse said Saturday. 

Under the initiative, the cost on carbon dioxide emissions would start at less than $20 per ton and increase over time, with revenue possibly rebated back to some consumers or dedicated to help fossil fuel workers amid the transition to clean energy, Whitehouse said on the sidelines of the COP26 climate conference in Scotland on Saturday."

“We have 49 out of 50 votes” from Democrats in the Senate, the Democrat from Rhode Island said. If the Senate passes it, “the House has assured us they will also pass it, and the White House has assured us the president will sign it into law.”

Some of the money could be devoted to helping coal miners and other workers who could be displaced by the U.S. shift to clean energy.

“A price on carbon is clearly where we need to head,” said Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado. “One of the great virtues of that is you can use the proceeds of that to help with this transition.”

How far we've come! But hold the champagne.

Let's jump on this news:

Congress Is Nearing A Decision

As negotiations on the budget reconciliation bill reach the final stages, CCL has launched another campaign to call Senate and House offices and the White House for one last push to include a price on carbon in the legislative package. CCL has already delivered over 100,000 contacts with Congress and the White House.

Last week, Senate Democrats released the framework for their budget reconciliation bill, which included $555 billion for climate and clean energy investments. CCL responded with this statement: 

“This isn’t really about the dollars we spend — it’s about emissions we cut. President Biden has pledged to cut U.S. greenhouse gas emissions 50% by 2030. We are concerned that the investments listed in this framework will not reduce emissions enough to keep that promise.” 

On a call attended by more than 500 volunteer leaders, CCL Director of Government Affairs Jennifer Tyler said, “Congress is nearing a decision, and we still have a window to make an impact.”

CCL Strategy Director Tony Sirna outlined the campaign to generate hundreds of calls to senators and representatives: “We want them to know that the public wants more on climate than the framework has in it right now. We want a carbon fee and dividend.”

It’s imperative that the U.S. meet its commitment to reduce carbon emissions 50% by 2030, and a price on carbon is critical to reaching that goal.

Since both of our senators are Democrats, they will be receptive to our support. We've made it easy using CCL’s online tools. After that, call our House member to support a price on carbon (he does) and the bipartisan infrastructure bill. Then write President Biden.

Do this even if you already have. Numbers matter.

This process is close to a conclusion! It's bottom of the ninth and the bases are loaded. Let's not drop the ball now. Take five minutes to act.
Start here: Call the Senate



Who Supports Carbon Fee and Dividend in Marin?

  • Marin Board of Supervisors
  • College of Marin Board of Trustees
  • Canal Alliance
  • MCE (Marin Clean Energy)
  • SolarCraft
  • Turning Green 
  • Indivisible Marin
  • Mike’s Bikes
  • Marin County Bicycle Coalition
  • Good Earth Natural Foods
  • KW Botanicals
  • Jayli
  • EcoRing
  • Crook Beales Design
  • Simple Solar

The fee and dividend policy is in several bills, including the House Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, now with 87 co-sponsors, including our Representative Jared Huffman and:
  • 42 members of the Progressive Caucus
  • 14 members of the Congressional Black Caucus
  • 13 members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus
  • 29 members of the Congressional Asian American Caucus
Next Weekend!


Join several thousand CCL members and friends in our Virtual Fall Conference

  • Saturday, November 13, 10am-2pm PT: Main Day
  • Sunday, November 14, 10am PT: Sunday Seminars (2-2.5 hours)


Saturday speakers from:

Georgia Institute of Technology
Yale Program on Climate Change Communication
Climate Interactive
CCL Leadership

Discussing:
EnRoads modeling
Methane
Nuclear
Transportation and the Grid
Agriculture
COP26
Chapter development
Empowering Youth, campus organizing
Talking to conservatives
Addressing carbon pricing criticism
Inclusion
Presenting skills

Sunday Seminars:
Evidence-Based Communication Techniques
A closer look at budget reconciliation climate provisions
Right meets Left: CCLers talk to each other
Climate Advocate Training


Prior to the national conference, please join the Marin Chapter's membership meeting at 0900 here.
And should you need more talking points:
A carbon tax is key to addressing the climate crisis — and carbon dividends could get Congress to support one


"Providing carbon dividends to every resident transforms the cod liver oil of a new tax into a milkshake that most Americans would happily consume for years to come."

Read this major front page editorial by Marin CCL's Jonathan Marshall and renowned former NASA climate scientist, Dr. James Hansen, "grandfather of climate change awareness" and tireless CCL advocate. He first warned Congress in 1988 that "the greenhouse effect has been detected and is changing our climate now." He's been right all along.

"Few climate policies would be so effective as economy-wide carbon fees. Few if any climate policies would so immediately improve the welfare of ordinary Americans and win political support as carbon dividends. Carbon fees and dividends should be a central part of any climate policy in the upcoming reconciliation bill."


How “Carbon Fee and Dividend” Serves Economic and Environmental Justice -- by Marin CCL's Jonathan Marshall, former economics editor, S.F. Chronicle
Understand how CF&D satisfies the imperative for social justice.

from CCL HQ

An elegant, personalized description of how a carbon tax can influence people's behavior.

Fareed Zakaria takes a look at why pricing carbon pollution is the simplest, most elegant way to decarbonize the global economy.
Broadcast June 20, 2021

You're invited, but...
This is how one behaves inside The Capitol:
Make an appointment. Business attire recommended. Bring nothing that even looks like a weapon.

If you know someone who would like to be added to this distribution list, please send their email after obtaining their permission, or better yet, have them join CCL.
Prepared by Peter G. Joseph, M.D. 
Apologies for cross postings