My dictionary says a tax is to fund government. This then would not be a tax, but rather an assessment against carbon pollution to be returned to those bearing the cost of the pollution. The carbon tax should increases each year replacing fossil energy with cheaper renewable energy. It would not be expensive as wind and thermal solar are already close to being cost competitive with coal generated electricity. It is transparent and would due much to decrease useage, either through conservation or more energy efficient products..

At the Breakthrough Institute we share your concern for low-income communities who would be hit much harder by an energy tax. We advocate for an earned income tax credit, as well as a new social contract to help more people attain economic security. But at the same time, it’s important to avoid creating a constituency that wants to keep dirty energy taxes in place. As taxation expert Monica Prasad argues in our interview with her this week, “The role of the carbon tax is to make itself go out of existence.”

I think the way we distinguish ourselves from conservatives who would argue that clean energy is too expensive is by making it about getting clean energy cheap. If we frame a tax as an investment in protecting energy costs in the long term — rather than a punishment for using dirty energy — I think we’ll see much more support.

Any ideas?