Re: “WA gas prices now highest in U.S.; some experts point to new climate legislation” [June 21, Local News]:
The narrative is that “main polluters like gasoline suppliers” ought to “pay to launch greenhouse gases into the ambiance.” It’s the shopper who burns the gasoline to run his autos, vans, and so forth., and warmth his properties who’s the “polluter.” The narrative follows with the notion that the gasoline suppliers would take in most of those compliance prices and in consequence the fee to the buyer can be pennies per gallon. That is someway defensible since oil firms “made $200 billion in revenue in 2022.” The oil trade is very aggressive and comparatively low margin — in truth the Division of Ecology assumed in its preliminary proposals the fee would all be handed on. However I get it, the Local weather Dedication Act wouldn’t have made it if the villain have been appropriately recognized.
The unbelievable results of these local weather auctions is they are going to produce extra money than the biennial funds for the complete state freeway system, for principally undefined applications. And the draw back — systemic inflation and the truth that the individuals most negatively impacted by this tax/payment of not less than 50 cents per gallon are the least prosperous, the statistical majority of whom depend on their autos for his or her employment decisions.
Invoice Popp Sr., Bellevue, transportation planning engineer
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