Submitted by Carol Amick for the Bedford Democratic Town Committee
The Bedford Democratic Town Committee will host Bedford’s State Senator, Michael Barrett, to describe his carbon pricing legislation at a forum this Tuesday, March 17, at 7 pm in the Flint Room of Town Center. The public is invited.
Senator Barrett says that his bill, SD285, “An Act Combating Climate Change,” would take Massachusetts a step further than existing State law in reversing the effects of greenhouse gas emissions. In 2008, the State Legislature enacted a law that requires emissions to be reduced by 80 percent by the year 2050. Because that goal is far from being reached – with emissions being cut by less than 1% a year, Senator Barrett’s legislation proposes a more aggressive strategy. He believes that a revenue-neutral carbon tax will achieve that goal, and his proposal would pass on the savings to every resident, business, non-profit and municipality.
Senator Barrett notes that the huge expenses related to pollution and health care costs are not factored into U.S. prices for gasoline and other fossil fuel products, but taxpayers still pay these expenses later, as expenditures for illnesses and environmental regulation. His legislation would prompt the public, businesses – everyone, to use less fossil fuels and pollute less, by establishing “full pricing” for fossil fuels. All the money generated by pollution — or carbon charges, would be returned to residents and employers in annual or quarterly checks.
Senator Barrett also believes that lower greenhouse gases will result in a stronger economy, as has occurred in British Columbia ever since this Canadian province enacted a similar emissions reduction program in 2008. He also notes that a recent poll in British Columbia revealed that two-thirds of those surveyed favor the law. “The money has gone back to the public, repeal efforts have failed, and today the carbon pricing system is more popular than it’s ever been,” Barrett added.
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