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California and AB32
On this page:
How Carbon Share could work in California
Carbon Share Advocacy in California: Current 2009 - EAAC,
Previous 2008 - Scoping Plan,
2007 - MAC
About AB32
How Carbon Share could work in California
Carbon Share can help the State implement AB32, the Global Warming Solutions Act that caps statewide greenhouse gas emissions and sets a reduction goal of 1990 levels by 2020.
Here is an example of a California Carbon Share, which can be be allocated electronically onto a debit card.
It can also be distributed as a paper share, and deposited into a brokerage account. Here is an example:
The share is denominated in tons CO2 and sold on the open carbon market to upstream fossil fuel companies. If the government sells the tons first, then it sends consumers a cash Dividend, which may arrive in the form of a check, or electronically, similar to the debit card shown above. Consumers may be given the choice of Dividend or Share. The State Franchise Tax Board could ask Californians: How would you like your climate allocation? Californians could choose: cash dividend, rebate, or share.
Here is a printable dividend (pdf), which you can print out and take with you to public events.
Carbon Share Advocacy in California:
Carbon Share's initial focus has been on California's Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, also called AB32.
2011: 15-day changes to Cap & Trade Regulation (stay tuned) and will the CA Legislature get involved
ARB Staff proposed 15-day changes for the electricity sector released 12-16-10
News and related blogs:
Mike Sandler in Huffington Post Green 2-23-11: Environmental Justice Lawsuit May Delay California Cap and Trade
California Public Utilities Commission opens Proceeding 3-24-11
Link to the Order instituting rulemaking
Excerpts: "ARB staff recommends that 97.7 million metric tons (MMT) of allowances be allocated for free to electrical distribution utilities in 2012, with the recommended sector allocation declining linearly to 83 MMT in 2020..[at].an auction reserve price for 2012 auctions [of] $10 per metric ton... the electric utilities could receive approximately $650 million for the quarterly auctions that ARB has planned to be held during 2012. If auction prices were to exceed $10 per metric ton, the utilities' revenues could be commensurately higher.".
Stay tuned for updates.
December 2010: ARB considers and adopts Cap & Trade Regulation - a mixed bag: too much giveaway (but a $10/ton reserve price)
CARB's Proposed Cap & Trade Regulation full of giveaways, but mentions dividends. Following Europe’s lead, CARB is designing a terrible system that starts getting better around the time it expires. They did learn one thing from Europe, the CA system would have a price floor (reserve price) of $10/ton, which increases each year.
CARB's 45-day comment period began November 1, 2010. The Board considered the regulation on December 16th, 2010. To read the regulation, click here, and scroll down to "public hearing notice and related material." Here is a link to submit comments and a sample comment:
Dear CARB,
Regarding the proposed Cap & Trade regulation, thank you for including a permit price floor starting at $10/ton. In the transportation fuels sector, I support the upstream point of regulation and auctioning 100% of permits. In the industrial sector, the free allocations are excessive and should be reduced. In the electricity sector, the final regulation should direct utilities to protect ratepayers by returning allowance value directly to residential customers as a rebate check. Finally, I urge you to follow your expert economic panel’s recommendation that “The largest share (roughly 75%) of allowance value should be returned to California households...” in the form of a dividend check.
Sincerely,
Selected Public Comments submitted to CARB:
Consumer's Union (publisher of Consumer Reports)
Letter from economists - presented by Prof. Michael Haneman of UC Berkeley recommending returning a significant portion of the allowance value to the people of California
Comment letter from Assemblymember Nancy Skinner
Comment Letter from First Congregational Church of Sonoma
Links to news articles about the proposed regulation:
Cosmo Garvin in newsreview.com 12-16-10: The grand experiment
David Baker in SF Chronicle: Poll: Most Californians support plan for a carbon-trading market
Cosmo Garvin in newsreview.com 11-10-10: Cap and giveaway: California’s landmark climate-change law survived the election, but it’s already being watered down
Reuters 10-29-10: California unveils greenhouse gas trading scheme
KQED Climate Watch 10-29-10: Air Board Likely to Give Away Most Carbon Permits
Bloomberg 10-29-10: California Doubles Carbon-Offset Use in Cap-and-Trade Plan to Meet Targets
Sacramento Bee 10-29-10:
Cap-and-trade program unveiled by California's air board
2010: EAAC Report recommends dividends!
The Economic and Allocation Advisory Committee (EAAC) January 10th, 2010 report recommends that “the largest share (roughly 75%) of allowance value should be returned to California households” (pg. 69). The report states that “roughly 75% of this value should be returned to households either through lump-sum payments…” and “roughly 25% of this value should be devoted to financing investments and other public expenditure…” (pg. 68). Here's a link to the report.
The EAAC estimates that even returning only 60% of allowance value dividends would allow 54% of households to avoid cost impacts of higher fuel and electricity costs resulting from the implementation of AB32 (pg. 57).
The EAAC estimates that if 100% of auction revenues were returned to Californians, an individual’s 2012 dividend would be $129, rising to $346 by 2020, and adding up to $9,348 for a family of four by 2020.
If 75% of allowance value were returned to Californians, a family of four would receive an annual dividend of $388 in 2012, rising to $1,036 in 2020, adding a total of $7,004 to family incomes over the 8 year program.
Fraction of Auction Revenue Returned as Dividends |
100% |
75%* |
60% |
Annual Per Capita Dividend Check |
in 2012 |
$129 |
$97 |
$77 |
in 2020 |
$346 |
$259 |
$207 |
Annual Dividend Check for Family of Four |
in 2012 |
$516 |
$388 |
$308 |
in 2020 |
$1,384 |
$1,036 |
$828 |
Source: EAAC Draft Report Jan. 10, 2009, pg. 56.
Estimate based on $40 allowance price in 2020
*75% value calculated based on EAAC figures
Links to articles and blogs about the EAAC report:
Reuters blog: California tilts towards cap and refund 2-16-10 (very in-depth and well-written)
Green Inc Blog on NYTimes: Cap-and-Trade Proceeds for Residents? 1-18-10
NYTimes: California Panel Considers Money From Climate Rules 1-13-10
Governor Schwarzenegger Issues Statement on Cap-and-Trade Program Recommendations
CalEPA Press Release: Advisory Panel Recommends “Household Friendly” Approach to Carbon Regulation
Wall Street Journal: California Ties Cash to Energy 1-12-10
Yes Magazine: Reaping the Dividends of Reduced Emissions by Mike Sandler 1-13-10
SolveClimate: Cap-and-Trade, California Style: Who Gets the Money? 1-12-10
LATimes blog: California cap-and-trade: A political gamble? 1-11-10
Quotes from the EAAC members' final meeting (doc transcribed)
The ARB will consider the EAAC report as it finalizes its Preliminary Draft Rule (PDR) on Cap and Trade.
CPC Comment to ARB (pdf) 3-25-10
CPC Comment to PDR (pdf) 1-10-10
More info on California's AB32 Cap and Trade program here.
2009: Cal EPA forms EAAC, continues hearings on AB32 implementation
In May 2009, Cal EPA announced they are convening a new Economic and Allocation Advisory Committee to continue to advise the State on cap and trade design under AB32. In his welcome letter to the members of the Committee, Governor Schwarzenegger wrote, "one idea in particular I would like you to explore among other options: the concept of returning the value of allowances back to the people, including through an auction of allowances and distribution of auction proceeds in the form of a rebate or dividend, in order to minimize the cost to California consumers and maximize the benefits to the state's economy."
Carbon Share Comment to EAAC (pdf) 7-6-09
CPC Comment to EAAC (pdf) 7-30-09
CPC Comment to EAAC (pdf) 10-1-09
Mike Sandler Comment to EAAC (pdf) 11-4-09 and attachment (Amy Sinden Revenue Neutral Cap and Trade)
Thora Lares Comment to EAAC (pdf) 11-10-09
CPC Comment to EAAC (pdf) 1-11-10
First EAAC meeting: July 1, 2009 from 9-3 at CalEPA Bldg in Sacramento. See the Carbon Share comments we submitted for the July 1 meeting.
And here are the latest fliers about Carbon Share: 1) Carbon market design, 2) How to spend the revenues, 3) What is Carbon Share, 4) Cap and Dividend, 5) How would you like your climate entitlement
Click here for more info on the EAAC.
Here is a sample letter (email to eaac@calepa.ca.gov):
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Dear EAAC,
We need to reduce greenhouse gases fairly, and return the majority of emissions value directly back to the public. Recycling the revenues with a dividend or share will help the people of California pay for increased energy bills, stimulate the economy, and reduce our state’s carbon footprint. Do not make our money disappear into the black hole of deficit reduction. Do not give free allocations to utilities on our behalf. Do not give tax cuts to corporations that are lobbying against climate protection through their Chambers of Commerce, or to their millionaire shareholders who may live outside the state. The State should continue to invest in renewable energy and low-emissions vehicles through the regular legislative appropriations process, without using permit auction revenues. California can lead the world with a carbon cap based on democratic principles: One person – One share. If we do it right, our AB32 law can influence the pending bill in Congress and the international climate talks in Copenhagen. Thank you.
Sincerely,
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2008: ARB Scoping Plan discusses designs for California's Carbon Market
California passed the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB32), committing the state to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. AB32 gave the California Air Resources Board (CARB) the authority to impose an economy-wide cap on state-wide greenhouse gas emissions. CARB has a multi-track process which includes considering market mechanisms in its Scoping Plan.
We will be following the discussion of market mechanisms in the ARB's AB32 Scoping Plan. The final Scoping Plan will be adopted by the end of 2008. After the Scoping Plan is adopted, CARB will embark on a 2-year effort to develop specific implementation policies.
Click here for upcoming public hearings on the Plan.
Selected public comments on the AB32 Scoping Plan:
CPC Comment on Proposed Scoping Plan 11-16-08 (pdf)
Rafael Aguilera testimony at CARB meeting on behalf of CPC 11-20-08 (pdf)
CPC Comment on Draft Scoping Plan 7-8-08 (pdf)
CPC Cap and Dividend 5-8-08 (pdf)
CPC Four Design Recommendations 11-20-07 (pdf)
CPC Comments on ARB Scoping Plan 11-29-07 (pdf)
The Climate Protection Campaign asked CARB to include the following elements into the Final Scoping Plan. Here is a sample letter for submittal to the Draft Scoping Plan:
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Dear CARB,
Thank you for your work on the Draft AB32 Scoping Plan to reduce California's GHGs by 2020, especially in setting goals for the State to increase renewable energy and reduce vehicle miles travelled. Please consider these recommendations for inclusion in the Final Scoping Plan:
- The State should auction 100% of permits under the cap. Polluters should pay for their emissions, not be given free permits that subsidize coal and prolong the transition to cleaner energy.
- The Scoping Plan should specify that all auction revenues will be used to provide a Dividend to compensate consumers. With gasoline at $4.50/gallon and rising electricity prices, helping consumers deal with fuel and electricity costs is the best use of auction revenues.
- I support CARB's proposal for Carbon Fees on fossil fuel companies to help fund CARB's implementation of AB32. Carbon Fees can also provide funding sources for clean technologies, green jobs, energy efficiency programs, and more.
Sincerely,
Your name
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Excerpts from the Draft Scoping Plan:
Pg 47 Use of revenues:
"Consumer rebates - Utilities and other businesses could use revenues to support and increase rebate programs to customers to offset some of the cost associated with increased investments in renewable resources and to encourage increased energy efficiency.
Direct refund to consumers - Revenue from the program could be recycled directly back to consumers in a variety of forms including per capita dividends, earned income tax credits, or other mechanisms."
"ARB is seeking comment on how such revenues could best be used."
Pg. 53 Regressivity:
"As part of the economic evaluation, ARB is also assessing the potential impact of AB 32 implementation on households by income. Some of the likely impacts of AB 32, such as increased energy prices, are expected to have a larger effect on lowerincome households because they spend a higher percentage of their income on energy such as gasoline, electricity, and home heating than do higher-income households. For example, in an April 2007 report the Congressional Budget Office found that price increases for electricity and gasoline would disproportionately affect people at the bottom of the income scale. Such impacts can be partially or fully mitigated through both through more efficient cars and homes, as well as program design options that lower costs (and thereby lower energy costs), protect low-income ratepayers, and/or generate revenue which can be used to directly address increased costs for low income households."
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Here is a factsheet summarizing some of the debate over how to spend the auction revenue (pdf). Should revenues be invested to reduce emissions, or returned to consumers as a dividend, rebate, or share?
We believe that consumer compensation is the best use of auction revenue. Other public goods including energy efficiency, transit, green jobs, R&D, renewable energy, and more may be funded by carbon fees and shifting government budget priorities.
January-June 2007:
Market Advisory Committee considered designs for California's Carbon Market
In 2006 California passed the Global Warming Solutions Act, committing the state to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. A Market Advisory Committee (MAC) was formed to advise the state on market measures, especially cap and trade. Dozens of citizens provided public comments to the Market Advisory Committee, including:
- Polluters should pay to use the atmosphere, and revenues should be used to compensate residents for higher energy prices and invest in a clean energy future.
- The carbon cap should cover all carbon entering the economy.
- Companies should not be allowed to buy cheap offsets overseas.
The Market Advisory Committee Final Report contained the following sections supportive of some of the ideas promoted on the Carbon Share website. Section 6.1.2, page 56 is on Use of Allowance Value- the topic of a recent workshop.
"The Committee believes that it is appropriate to devote a portion of allowance value to the general public. In doing so it reduces the impact of the cap-and-trade system on consumers. If allowances are auctioned, some of the revenue from the auction can be used to finance reductions in State tax rates, or can be returned to taxpayers directly through rebate checks, perhaps on a per-capita basis."
"CARB may wish to convene an advisory group involving persons with budgetary experience and wide knowledge of energy, environmental, tax and budgetary policy, and including representatives of both the Department of Finance and the Legislature, to prepare a study outlining several sensible options for recycling revenues to businesses or individuals."
"Some observers have suggested that CARB may not have the authority to auction and that auctioning might require further legislative action. If this is the case the agency could consider a number of alternatives to implement a design that would resemble an auction, including allocation to a public trustee, LSEs, or local distribution companies who could
auction allowances on behalf of the state’s citizens, or direct allocation to households."
On page 68, the report discusses the need for a price floor:
"While a price ceiling could jeopardize environmental integrity and reduce the return on investments in clean technologies, a price floor would reinforce environmental integrity and the value of clean investments. The Committee encourages CARB to consider enforcing a price floor."
A carbon fee could become the price floor.
Here is a factsheet on the difference between a carbon tax and cap and trade system.
Here is a second factsheet which describes how a carbon fee could be the price floor for a cap and auction system.
About AB32:
In September 2006, the State set statewide greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets by adopting AB32, the California Global Warming Solutions Act. The State committed to reducing emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. The State will enact policies that cause a reduction of an estimated 174 Million Metric Tons of GHGs. In 2007, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) will begin implementing California’s greenhouse gas targets. CARB has scheduled several upcoming events related to the implementation of AB 32. The events webpage also contains an archive of comments and presentations from meetings throughout 2006 and 2007.
Click here for Carbon Share in Local Jurisdictions, other U.S. states, or National News.
Click here for what you can do for citizens, or governments and agencies.
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