As the implications of global warming become increasingly clear, and more and more people get on board, the question becomes, "What now?".
One of the ideas floating around is a Carbon Tax. Good or bad idea? More over the fold.
Steve Chapman wrote and interesting article about a Carbon Tax here.
Here's a sample:
How? With a carbon tax that assesses fuels according to how much they pollute. Coal, having the highest carbon content, would be taxed the most, followed by oil and natural gas. The higher prices for the most damaging fuels would encourage people and companies to use them less and more of other types of energy, including nuclear, solar, wind and biofuels. This approach also would affect all sources -- not just cars, which account for only one-fifth of all U.S. carbon dioxide emissions.
While on it's face this isn't a bad idea, in its unvarnished form, it means that coal electricity just became far more expensive. Since Coal makes up 54% of our electrical output, that means the vast majority of us would be in for a nasty sticker shock the next time we get an electric bill. The people who can afford it the least get hit. The only way I can see this working is if there were some form of exemption for people who can't afford it.
I am much more in favor of a longer-term solution, such as tax incentives for people who want to make their houses more energy efficient, tax credits for tied-in solar, and a much bigger push to use existing technology. A lot of people seem to think that there's a magical technological pill coming - there isn't. Fusion is a good 30-40 years away, electric and fuel cell cars have inherent limitations that won't be conquered without a major breakthrough, and people have to break the psychological conditioning of "bigger is better". I'm not sure this is possible in a country where people still think evolution is a belief, and not science.
As a somewhat related aside, I replaced a florescent bulb for the first time last week. I converted to entirely florescent lighting 7 years ago. I won't do the math, but how many people who still use incandescents can say that they haven't replaced a bulb in 7 years?
The technology is here, today. We need to take advantage of it.