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Create a National Low-Loss Electrical Grid and Institute a Carbon Tax
Dr. James Hansen at 6/24/2008 4:12PM
Create a National Low-Loss Electrical Grid and Institute a Carbon Tax
The next president should do two things: first, he should begin the move to a completely renewable energy electrical system, one that uses sunlight and wind to provide all the energy we need for electricity. Second, he should be blunt with the public that, in order for energy efficiency to play the role that it can, we need to tax carbon. This will actually stimulate the economy and will put us on the road to decreasing carbon and solving the climate crisis.
The incentive value of a tax should be maximized by (1) rebating some or all of the money raised to those who are low- or zero-polluters and (2) extending it to include all pollutants that cause global warming (e.g. black carbon, carbon monoxide, methane, etc.). The most important aspect of Hansen's suggestion is that a President squarely confront what is the gravest threat ever posed to human survival and act accordingly.
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