Submitted by the office of Sen. Mike Barrett (D-Lexington)
A State House auditorium was packed out on Tuesday with businesspeople, economists, faith leaders, civic groups and concerned citizens, all pushing for a ground-breaking proposal to tackle global warming. The Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Energy, and Utilities was urged to approve S.1821, An Act combating climate change, filed by State Senator and Committee Chair Mike Barrett, D-Lexington. The bill places a charge on fuel emissions that contribute to global warming and then returns the money — in direct rebates — to residents, businesses and non-profits.
For the hearing, Barrett’s office released a graph (attached) depicting a disconnect between current greenhouse gas reduction trends in Massachusetts and the steeper declines needed to achieve the state’s longer-term reductions goal for 2050.
“When we get too excited about hitting our near-term emissions goals for 2020 and 2025, we run a risk of over-congratulating ourselves,” Barrett said. “The near-term goals target low-hanging fruit in electric power. But 80% of our carbon emissions come from transportation, buildings, and industrial processes. To drive down emissions there, we need to put our hands on the big tool missing from the toolbox — carbon pricing.”
Prominent economists explained why carbon pricing is the single most effective step state government can take to reduce global warming. James Stock, former member of President Obama’s Council of Economic Advisors, stated that a carbon fee would result in “meaningful emissions reductions” and that it would “help the Massachusetts economy.”
MIT Professor Chris Kittel added that “economists are essentially unanimous that a price on carbon is the most efficient way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions”. He said, “no other policy has the same breadth in terms of the wide range of beneficial behavioral changes.”
Meanwhile, Tufts economist Gib Metcalf noted that the bill is revenue neutral, meaning that the fee goes immediately back to Massachusetts residents and businesses. He pointed out that over 60% of households would receive more in rebates than they paid in higher costs because of the fee.
Environmental Health Professor Jonathan Levy testified that carbon pricing would lead to $3 billion in healthcare savings for residents of Massachusetts and the surrounding regions by 2040. The policy would result in huge cumulative health benefits, with reductions in hospitalizations and deaths from respiratory and cardiovascular disease and other improvements in health outcomes.
The bill received support from Boston City Council President Michelle Wu. She noted that low-income households use less energy, and would, therefore, receive a net gain through the rebate. She also pointed out that the bill provides an additional rebate for rural communities, who need to rely more heavily on personal vehicles.
Members of Clean Water Action, Climate Action Now, and Climate XChangecame out in force, and highlighted how urgent action is needed to drastically reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
Barrett’s bill has picked up 64 co-sponsors so far, representing nearly a third of Massachusetts legislators.
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