Current Stories
Editor's Top Picks
Crunchy Courtenay Opposes BC Carbon Tax
Victoria Times Colonist
05/15/2008
Courtenay city council, which frequently trumpets the city's green credentials, will send a letter to the province opposing the upcoming carbon tax.
Go to article.
Vancouver, B.C. Mayoral Candidate Tightlipped on Carbon Tax
Georgia Straight
05/15/2008
Vancouver-Fairview NDP MLA Gregor Robertson won’t reveal if he’ll vote with NDP Leader Carole James in opposition to the B.C. Liberal carbon tax.
In a phone interview with the Georgia Straight from Victoria, Robertson, the one-term MLA and Vision Vancouver mayoral candidate, said he has not yet decided whether to support or reject B.C. Finance Minister Carole Taylor’s Carbon Tax Act, Bill 37, which currently sits at first reading in the legislature.
Go to article.
Views: Harper Should Let Carbon Tax Breathe
Toronto Globe and Mail
05/15/2008
There are four reasons why Canada' Prime Minister should encourage, rather than stifle, debate on the climate-change measure.
Go to article.
Shrinking Carbon's Muddy Footprint
Portland Tribune
05/15/2008
When the folks at Mount Hood’s Timberline Lodge decided to “green” their new ski lift, the equation was pretty simple. Figure out how much electricity the lift would use in a year and offset that with an annual investment in wind turbines or solar power. But, the issue is a little more complex than that.
Go to article.
B.C. Drafts Climate Initiative
Vancouver Sun
05/14/2008
As B.C. prepares to enter into a regional system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reporters were invited to a briefing Tuesday on the pending release of draft regulations for the scheme.
Go to article.
Congress Must Side with Renewable Tax Credits
San Francisco Chronicle
05/14/2008
Businesses investing in renewable power are on the forefront of finding solutions to the greatest challenge of our times: reducing greenhouse gas emissions to prevent runaway global warming.
But their entrepreneurial efforts may be stillborn if Congress fails to extend vital production and investment tax credits that have nurtured the renewable power industry as it works to implement emerging technology and achieve scale economies.
Go to article.
B.C. Green Groups Praise Cap-and-Trade
Toronto Globe and Mail
05/14/2008
Two environmental groups based in Western Canada say the regional effort to develop a system to slap a price on harmful industrial greenhouse-gas emissions could ultimately form the basis for North America's best response to climate change.
Go to article.
The Uncertain Future of Carbon Trading
The Economist
05/12/2008
In 2007, emissions trading grew into a $60 billion business. Much of that came from within the European Union, which has capped the emissions of big factories and power plants, but allows firms that exceed their allocation to buy unused pollution rights from those that have some to spare. With the growth of this new industry, does carbon trading have a rosy future, or none at all?
Go to article.
Dion May Champion Carbon Tax
Canada's National Post
05/13/2008
The idea was rejected 10 years ago by former prime minister Jean Chretien in the midst of his three consecutive majority governments, but Liberal leader Stephane Dion now appears to be banking on a carbon tax to help win the next election.
Go to article.
Views: Carbon Efforts Give Hope
Olympia Olympian
05/13/2008
Hopefully, the federal government will support carbon offsets and credits while making sure those offering them live up to their promises. It is true the option of purchasing of such options is a way of rationalizing one's behavior, and these are not perfect systems. However, they are hopeful examples showing people care and are beginning to act.
Go to article.
Obama Talks Energy in Bend
Portland Oregonian
05/11/2008
The Illinois Democrat said he would put a higher tax on companies that pollute and use the money to invest in wind, solar, geothermal and other alternatives to oil. He said he wouldn't rule out nuclear energy as a future source of power, if problems of waste storage and safety can be resolved.
Go to article.
Views: Extend Renewable Energy Tax Credits
Eugene Register Guard
05/07/2008
As the nation’s overall economy is gasping for air, renewable energy is cruising like an Olympic marathoner, fulfilling the predictions of Gov. Ted Kulongoski and other proponents of green economic growth.
But the promise of Oregon’s renewable energy industry is imperiled by a maddening debate in Congress over tax credits for the nation’s solar and wind power industries.
Go to article.
Canadian Candidate Wants Tax Cuts, Carbon Tax
Toronto Globe and Mail
05/08/2008
Stéphane Dion is poised to unveil a carbon-tax scheme and attempt to neutralize any political damage by offering corresponding personal income tax cuts of between $10-billion and $13-billion to working Canadians, senior Liberal sources say.
The Liberal Leader wants this major environmental policy to be the centrepiece of the party's election campaign platform, according to the sources, and is anxious to reveal it this summer to give Canadians a chance to digest the idea before a federal election.
Go to article.
Views: Carbon Offsets Curb Emissions
Eugene Register Guard
05/05/2008
Sens. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., and John Warner, R-Va., are promoting a bill to establish a national cap-and-trade program that would regulate carbon emissions from industry. One provision would allow emitters to meet their emission reduction targets by purchasing carbon “offset” credits.
The Western Climate Initiative, in which Oregon is participating, also has included offsets in its cap-and-trade proposal.
Go to article.
Views: Canadian Politicians Face Test of Courage on Climate Change
Victoria Times Colonist
05/06/2008
You can already foresee what could become a key theme in the next election: The Liberals champion a carbon tax and the Conservatives accuse them of punishing consumers, attacking resource-rich Alberta, stifling Newfoundland's fledgling boom and up-ending the Ontario economy just as it edges toward recession.
Go to article.
Views: Carbon Tax Supposed To Hurt
Vancouver Sun
05/01/2008
Ouch. Ouch, ouch. Ouch, ouch, ouch.
That, in short, pretty much sums up the reaction from across the province to the carbon tax announced by Finance Minister Carole Taylor in her budget in February and finally introduced as legislation this week.
Go to article.
B.C. Carbon Tax to Up Gas Prices 2.4 Cents
CBC BC
04/29/2008
The tax will earn the government an estimated $1.85 billion over three years, but the government will give all of the money back to taxpayers in the form of tax breaks.
Go to article.
Carbon Tax Hot Topic for Northern B.C.
canada.com
04/29/2008
The issue of the province's new carbon tax and its impact on Northern communities will be a hot topic at this year's North Central Municipal Association (NCMA) meeting.
Go to article.
B.C.'s Carbon Tax Coming Soon
Toronto Globe and Mail
04/29/2008
The B.C. government introduced legislation yesterday for its carbon tax that will see a cut in greenhouse gas output and an increase for those heating their homes or driving their vehicles.
The phased-in tax, which was promised in the February budget, will start Canada Day.
Go to article.
Views: Carbon Tax Coping in B.C.
Vancouver Sun
04/29/2008
Economist Steven Levitt's book Freakonomics showed how conventional wisdom clashes with reality, especially when self-interest is involved.
Objections from a few of British Columbia's Interior and northern mayors to the recently announced carbon-centred tax reform seem to support Levitt's claim.
Go to article.
Environmental Groups Praise B.C.'s Carbon Tax Move
Victoria Times Colonist
04/29/2008
The B.C. Liberal government drew rare praise from environmental groups yesterday as it moved to become the first province to create a carbon tax on fuels.
Go to article.
Spending the Stimulus
Living on Earth
04/28/2008
More than 130 million taxpayers will get an economic stimulus check beginning in May. Congressman Brian Baird wants Americans to use their economic stimulus checks to benefit the environment. What will people do with the money? Living on Earth hit the street to find out.
Go to article.
Dawson Creek Joins Carbon-Tax Opposition
Toronto Globe and Mail
04/24/2008
Dawson Creek has joined other northern B.C. communities in calling the carbon tax unfair to British Columbians who have to drive farther than those in the south and also face additional challenges heating their homes.
Go to article.
Ferndale Sets Sales Tax on Recycled Materials
Bellingham Herald
04/23/2008
City leaders approved taxing the sale of recycled materials Monday night, but a maj


