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So you think that carbon taxes invested into renewable energy have no negative policy consquences at all? Either the customers of the utility will have to pay

So you think that carbon taxes invested into renewable energy have no negative policy consquences at all? Either the customers of the utility will have to pay higher rates to support the higher costs of new renewable energy or capital providers will be expected to take a haircut. In basically every prior case policy makers have essentially ringfenced energy suppliers from bearing the financial cost themselves and consumers are ultimately the ones who pay extra for renewable energy with business and industrial users often avoiding higher utility bills like in germany. So basically, you might as well do what germany does and just force consumers to pay in the first place for higher electricity prices. That's a lot easier to administratively manage than having to collect new taxes from energy users.

dclowd9901 7y ago
OK? You raised a valid point that there may be a negative policy consequence, then abruptly undermined it by saying "we'll just make them pay it anyway." I mean, that's the point. We're paying for externalities with regards to energy creation one way or another. To not pay for "dirty" energy out of pocket now is just kicking the can down the road. Plus there's myriad positives to tipping the balance of incentives toward renewables. I suppose conservatives might oppose such legislation because it would be an opposing view, but... well hell, who am I kidding. It's not like they have any other reason to exist now besides being contradictory.