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Boulder’s Carbon Tax: Building a Foundation for Community Climate Action

Panel: Energy and Environmental Policy: Planning for Greater Impacts

Authors:
Yael Gichon, City of Boulder
Kevin Afflerbaugh, City of Boulder
Andrew Bascue, City of Boulder
Sarah Van Pelt, City of Boulder

Abstract

The city of Boulder's adoption of the Kyoto Protocol goals to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions translates to a 22% reduction below current emission levels for Boulder by 2012. The adoption of the Climate Action Plan (CAP), which is a blueprint to achieve these goals, and the passage of the nation's first carbon tax, is building the foundation for local action. The carbon tax, collected on electricity use, directly funds the CAP programs and comprises an innovative approach to reducing the community's emissions through programs based on voluntary participation, regulations and incentives.

The CAP and associated ClimateSmart campaign engage and motivate the community to take action to reduce GHG emissions. Energy conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy in buildings-plus efficient transportation-are the cornerstones of the plan. Collaboration is an important component of an effort of this magnitude. The CAP programs educate by connecting residents and businesses with the resources they need to make informed choices, facilitating voluntary action.

While the CAP tax has provided funding for the city to establish successful programs aimed at GHG emission reductions, challenges still exist in trying to achieve the goals laid out in the CAP. These challenges have motivated staff to consider new and creative options for working with the community.

This paper introduces Boulder's process to develop a comprehensive Climate Action Plan, summarizes the political process to create a dedicated revenue source to fund the CAP programs, and highlights select CAP strategies, successes, challenges, and possible future directions.

Paper

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