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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 Zra 44'4..4)6 CITY CLERK