HomeMy WebLinkAbout34. 21-86FEBRUARY 9, 2021 21-86 RESOLUTION
(CARRIED_______LOST_______LAID OVER_______WITHDRAWN_______)
PURPOSE: APPROVE URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO
ENACT THE ENERGY INNOVATION AND CARBON
DIVIDEND ACT
INITIATED BY: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD RECOMMENDATION: Approved
WHEREAS, an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issued a special
report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels in October
2018 warning that global warming is likely to reach 1.5°C between 2030 and 2052 if it
continues to increase at the current rate; and
WHEREAS, the United Nations climate science body said in a monumental
climate report that we have only until 2030 to make massive and unprecedented changes
to global energy infrastructure to limit global warming to moderate levels; and
WHEREAS, the United States government released its Fourth Annual Climate
Assessment in November 2018 reporting that the impacts of climate change are already
being felt in communities across the country, and that more frequent and intense extreme
weather and climate-related events, as well as changes in average climate conditions, are
expected to continue to damage infrastructure, ecosystems, and social systems that
provide essential benefits to communities; and
WHEREAS, conservative estimates by the world's climate scientists state that, to
achieve climate stabilization and avoid cataclysmic climate change, emissions of
greenhouse gases (GHGs) must be brought to 80-95% below 1990 levels by 2050; and
WHEREAS, presently the environmental, health, and social costs of carbon
emissions are not included in prices paid for fossil fuels, but rather these externalized
costs are borne directly and indirectly by all Americans and global citizens; and
FEBRUARY 9, 2021 21-86 RESOLUTION
CONT’D
WHEREAS, to begin to correct this market failure, Congress can enact HR763 the
Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act to assess a national carbon fee on fossil fuels
based on the amount of CO2 the fuel will emit when burned and allocate the collected
proceeds to all U.S. Households in equal per-capita shares in the form of a monthly
dividend; and
WHEREAS, for efficient administration, the fossil fuels fee can be applied once, as
far upstream in the economy as practical, or at the port of entry into the United States;
and
WHEREAS, the City of Oshkosh established a Sustainability Advisory Board to
research and make recommendations to the Council, including creation of a
Sustainability Plan first adopted by Council in 2012 and revised in 2019, which states in
Chapter 3: Energy that “shifting away from fossil fuels has the significant benefit of
avoiding pollution that negatively impacts health and increases greenhouse gases” while
encouraging greater use of locally-produced renewable energy resources; and
WHEREAS, as stated in HR763 the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act,
a national, revenue-neutral carbon fee starting at a relatively low rate of $15 per ton of
CO2 equivalent emissions and resulting in equal charges per ton of CO2 equivalent
emissions potential in each type of fuel or greenhouse gas should be assessed to begin to
lower what are now dangerously high CO2 emissions. The yearly increase in carbon fees
including other greenhouse gases, shall be at least $10 per ton of CO2 equivalent each
year, with the provision that the annual increase will be $15 per ton of CO2 equivalent if
statutory goals are not met; and
WHEREAS, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act specifies that, in
order to protect low and middle income citizens from the economic impact of rising prices
due to the carbon fee, equal monthly per-person dividend payments shall be made to all
American households (one-half payment per child under 19 years old) each month from
the fossil fuel fees collected. The total value of all monthly dividend payments shall
represent 100% of the net carbon fees collected per month; and
WHEREAS, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act encourages market-
driven innovation of clean energy technologies and market efficiencies which will reduce
FEBRUARY 9, 2021 21-86 RESOLUTION
CONT’D
harmful pollution and leave a healthier, more stable, and more prosperous nation for
future generations; and
WHEREAS, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act will, after 12 years,
lead to a decrease in America’s CO2 emissions of 40 percent and preserve national
employment; and
WHEREAS, border adjustments - carbon content-based levies on products
imported from countries without comparable carbon pricing, and refunds to our
exporters of carbon fees paid - can maintain the competitiveness of U.S. businesses in
global markets; and
WHEREAS, a national carbon fee can be implemented quickly and efficiently, and
will respond to the urgency of the climate crisis because the federal government already
has in place mechanisms, such as the Internal Revenue Service, needed to implement and
enforce the fee, and already collects fees from fossil fuel producers and importers; and
WHEREAS, a national revenue-neutral carbon fee would make the United States
a leader in mitigating climate change and in the clean energy technologies of the 21st
century and would provide incentive to other countries to enact similar carbon fees,
reducing global CO2 emissions without the need for complex international agreements,
and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Common Council of the City of
Oshkosh, Wisconsin urges the United States Congress to enact without delay the Energy
Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Manager, no later than 30 days after
passage of this Resolution, shall have appropriate staff transmit copies of this resolution
to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, to each U.S. Senator and
Representative from the State of Wisconsin in the Congress of the United States, and to
nearby city and county governments urging that they pass similar resolutions.
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council
FROM: Allen Davis, Community Development Director
DATE: February 4, 2021
RE: Approve Urging the United States Congress to Enact the Energy Innovation and
Carbon Dividend Act
BACKGROUND
The Sustainability Advisory Board (SAB) has brought this Resolution forward and discussed it
at their recent meeting. It appears that there are additional communities throughout Wisconsin
that have already passed the proposed resolution.
ANALYSIS
It appears the proposed Energy and Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act is consistent with
the Oshkosh Sustainability Plan since the Act seeks to reduce carbon dioxide and greenhouse
gasses.
FISCAL IMPACT
There appears to be no local fiscal impact. The fiscal impact would occur on the federal level.
RECOMMENDATION
The SAB recommended approval of this Resolution at its February 1, 2021 meeting. Please see
the attached meeting minutes for more information.
Submitted, Approved,
Allen Davis, Mark Rohloff,
Community Development Director City Manager
ITEM: APPROVE URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO ENACT THE
ENERGY INNOVATION AND CARBON DIVIDEND ACT
Sustainability Advisory Board meeting of February 1, 2021.
The Sustainability Advisory Board recommended approval of this item at their February 1, 2021
meeting. The following is the Sustainability Advisory Board’s discussion on this item.
Margy Davey explained that this resolution is to urge the United States Congress to enact the
Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act. She further explained that the SAB cannot tell the
U.S. Congress what to do as local advisory board but they can advise the City Council to pass
this resolution to show support of said bill, which can then be forwarded onto the U.S.
Congress. Ms. Davey then read a few of the whereas statements from the proposed resolution.
Ms. Davey also stated that, since the City of Oshkosh established the SAB and the SAB created a
Sustainability Plan, which states in chapter three that shifting away from fossil fuels has the
significant benefit of avoiding pollution that negatively impacts health and increases
greenhouse gases while encouraging greater use of locally produced renewable energy
resources, and since the Carbon Fee and Dividend Act addresses many of those issues, SAB
would like the City of Oshkosh to urge the U.S. Congress to enact this bill.
There were no questions regarding the resolution.
Pat Hallquist moved to advise the City Council to pass this resolution and Bob Poeschl
seconded the motion. The board voted (8-0) to pass the motion. (Hallquist / Poeschl)
12/2/2020 Winnebago County, Wisconsin
https://factsheets.ypccc.tools/Wisconsin:Winnebago_County-TTpoYXBwZW5pbmcsd29ycmllZCx0ZWFjaEdXLTE6VC0yOlQtMzpULTQ6VC01OlQtNjpULTc6VC04OlQtOTpULTEwOlQtMTE6VC0xMjpULTEzOlQtMTQ6…1/2
WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN
Public Opinion on Climate Change, 2020
Public opinion data come from the Yale Climate Opinion Maps (YCOM), which are based on a statistical model that employs nationally representative Climate Change in
the American Mind (CCAM) surveys conducted between 2008 and 2020. The model combines geographic, census, socioeconomic, and political data with CCAM survey
data collected by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication and George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication (combined n > 25,000).
For more information about the survey question wording and methodology, please visit YCOM: climatecommunication.yale.edu/visualizations-data/ycom-us
Beliefs
Global warming is happening
Winnebago County,
Wisconsin Wisconsin average (69%)
54%
48%
62%
Global warming is caused mostly by human activities
Most scientists think global warming is happening
Global warming is affecting the weather
Risk Perceptions
Worried about global warming
Winnebago County,
Wisconsin Wisconsin average (58%)
66%
61%
55%
34%
Global warming will harm future generations
Global warming will harm people in the developing countries
Global warming will harm people in the US
Global warming will harm me personally
Policy Support
Schools should teach about global warming
Winnebago County,
Wisconsin Wisconsin average (75%)
87%
81%
74%
64%
Fund research into renewable energy sources
Provide tax rebates for energy e cient vehicles or solar panels
Regulate CO as a pollutant
Set strict CO limits on existing coal- red power plants
Behaviors
Discuss global warming at least occasionally
32%
Hear about global warming in the media at least once a week
23%
Who should do more about global warming?
The President Congress My Governor My Local Govt. O cials Citizens Corporations
Color Legend
>0%>5%>10%>15%>20%>25%>30%>35%>40%>45%>50%>55%>60%>65%>70%>75%>80%>85%>90%>95%
For help / questions, please contact: climatechange@yale.edu
Yale Program on Climate Change Communication 2020
In partnership with
2
2
66%
56%
74%
53%50%45%46%60%66%
Who is Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL):
Non-partisan, non-profit organization of ordinary citizens concerned about climate change,
25 Wisconsin chapters with 6,461 members
478 US chapters with 181,220 members
600 World wide chapters with 194,540 members
What CCL Does:
Empower people to use their influence to enact climate legislation at a National level
Build relationships with elected officials
Work to get Congress to enact the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, currently
pending in Congress as HR 763
Educates the public and local groups on climate change impacts and the power of Carbon Fee
and Dividend legislation to jump start the reduction of carbon pollution
What is HR 763 and How does it work:
Places a price on fossil fuels. This creates a market-driven demand for cleaner energy
technologies. Reduces U.S. carbon emissions by correcting market distortions.
Returns revenue directly to every U.S. citizen in the form of a monthly “Carbon Cash Back”
divident payment protecting people and stimulating the local economy.
This bipartisan and revenue-neutral plan is at present our best chance for significant positive
change. It stimulates the economy, encourages alternative energy innovation, and costs the
government nothing. The cash back policy ensures that all citizens will be able to balance their
budgets while our economy makes the transition to clean, renewable energy as quickly as
possible.
Who’s Concerned About Climate Change:
Please see the YPCC Fact Sheet attached to this email for Winnebago County specific graphs.
100+ local governments across 25 states support the Energy Innovation Act (8/11/20). These
local leaders recognize the importance of finding creative solutions to the problem of global
warming.
In Wisconsin, 11 local governments passed a resolution supporting HR 763 while 10 others
passed resolutions or referendums supporting general climate legislation
How Climate Change Affects Us
Less Ice on local lakes - Local sportsmen recall the 2020 sturgeon season was hampered by too
little ice. It’s an obvious trend on most Wisconsin Lakes. Lake Mendota averaged 110 days of
ice covering during the 1950’s but since 2000 the average has been 70 days. This ice melt will
almost certainly accelerate.
Increased flooding – In June 2018, flooding in Wisconsin cased $12 million in damage to roads
and overpasses in six NW Wisconsin counties. In August and September, additional flooding
caused enough damage in 18 counties to qualify for FEMA disaster relief. The torrential rains
caused the Neenah-Menasha sewage treatment plant to overflow and spill untreated sewage
into Little Lake Butte des Mort and nearby streets for close to six hours. JWe have had flooding
in the past, but not at these levels. These types of severe rainstorms are predicated to happen
more frequently in Wisconsin as climate change intensifies resulting in more frequent flooding,
devastating local infrastructure.
Economic impact of climate-related disasters occurring elsewhere – Our pocketbooks are
affected since the federal government ends up paying for much of the damage with funds that
come from us as taxpayers.
Why we need your help:
To send a message to elected officials in D.C. that there is public support for Carbon Fee and
Dividend legislation. If community leaders agree that supporting HR 763 is a good idea, then we
hope that our Representatives and Senators would take note. You are in a position to make a
real difference here.
Resolution supporting the
Energy Innovation and Carbon
Dividend Act (H.R. 763)
La Crosse (City)
La Crosse County
Eau Claire (City)
Eau Claire County
Washburn
Stevens Point
Waupaca
Wausau
Dane
County
Ashland
County
Wisconsin Local Government Support
Resolution supporting
national carbon fee &
dividend legislation
www.citizensclimatelobby.org
Red Cliff Tribal Council Bayfield
Bayfield
County
Ashland
Rice Lake
Sawyer
County
Middleton
Janesville
Referendum supporting
national carbon fee &
dividend legislation
Bad River Tribal Council
Rock
County
Resolution supporting
federal climate legislation
Appleton