HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-08-28 17-316 RESOLVErag
CITY COUNCIL ACTION
Council Meeting Date: 08/28/2 017
Item Nom. 17-316
Responsible Dept: City Clerk
Action Requested: Resolve
08/28/2017
17-316
Map/dot: N/A
Title, Resolve -
U ing
the United States Congress to enact a RevenuemNeutral Carbon Tax and Dividend
Summa
The Bangor City Council recognizes that the health of the Citizens of Bangor is dependent upon the
quality of our air, water, and natural resources and that the health of much of the State of Maine's
economy, including agriculture, fishing, forestry, and tourism are favored by a clean and stable
climate. The Bangor City Council therefore resolves that the City of Bangor supports the
implementation of a carbon fee and dividend system on the understanding that it be
revenue -neutral, with all monies from carbon fees being returned to households as a carbon
dividend.
This item was discussed at a BED Committee meeting and Government Operations Committee on
August 21, 2017.
Committee Action
Committee: Government Operations Committee
Action: Recommend for passage
Staff Comments Approvals
City Manager
Rtroduced form. New Business
Meeting Date: 08/21/2017
For: 4
City Solicitor
Against: 1
Finance Director
CITY OF BANGOR RESOLVE 08/28/2017 17-316
Date: 08/28/2017
Item Non. 17-316
Assigned to Councilors. Faircloth
Urging the United States Congress to enact a RevenuessNeutral Carbon Tax and Dividend
WHEREAS, the Bangor City Council recognizes that the health of the citizens of Bangor is dependent
upon the quality of our air, water and natural resources; and
WHEREAS, much of the Statef Maine's economy, including agriculture, fiishing, forest
ry, and
tourism are largely dependent upon a stable climate; and
WHEREAS, the University of Maine's Climate Change Institute agrees with the consensus of climate
scientists worldwide, that the climate is rapidly changing, and that the changesare associated with
increased concentrations in the atmosphere of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gas
pollutants derived principally as emissions from fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas; and
WHEREAS, the State has pursued efforts through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and by
other means to reduce the burning of fossil fuels for energy generation, and is on target to use at
least 25% renewable energy by 2025; and
WHEREAS, further reductions of CO2 emissions are warranted in order to stay below the 2•c global
temperature rise that is generally acknowledged to be a dangerous threshold, and that putting a
price on carbon fuels ("a carbon fee") is widely accepted by economists as being the most effective
means to achieve this goal; and
WHEREAS, a Carbon Fee and Dividend system with the fee being levied at the extraction point of
fossil fuels or point of entry into the US, with all monies returned to households as a dividend would
leverage market forces to encourage investments in increased energy efficiency and alternate
sources of energy by both industry and consumers.
Be it Resolved bV the City Council of the City of Bangor that,
the City of Bangor supports the implementation of a revenue -neutral carbon fee and dividend system,
monies from carbon fees being returned to households as a carbon dividend.
with all
Be it Further Resolved by the City Council of Bangor that, the City of Bangor strongly encourages the U.S.
Congress to enact a revenue -neutral carbon fee and dividend system with the speed appropriate to the
gravity and urgency of the situation,, and in recognition of the benefits realized transitioning to clean energy.
IN CITY COUNCIL
AUGUST 28, 2017
CR 17-316
MOTION MADE AND SECONDED FOR PASSAGE
MOTION DOUBTED
VOTE: 7-1
COUNCILORS VOTING YES: FAIRCLOTH, GRAHAM, NICHOLS, PERRY,
SPRAGUE, TREMBLE, BALDACCI
COUNCILORS VOTING NO: WESTON
MOTIONPASSED
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CITY CLERK