Support Builds for Conroy-Barrett Anti-Climate Change Bill

At last week’s meeting of the Legislature’s Revenue Committee, a star lineup of legislators, environmentalists and economists rallied behind a new concept to fight climate change in Massachusetts.

The proposal by state Rep. Tom Conroy and state Sen. Mike Barrett, D-Lexington, would levy a so-called carbon tax on sources that emit CO2, the major greenhouse gas behind global warming.

“Conservative and liberal economists agree that an anti-pollution tax should be part of any government’s revenue structure, regardless of whether taxes are high or low,” Barrett said after the hearing. “The idea is to send a market-based signal to every individual, company and organization to reduce the use of fossil fuels.”

“Climate change is real,” said Conroy. “Our carbon tax -- aka anti-pollution tax -- would be a very effective mechanism to address climate change, if we can make it law and offer it as a model for the rest of the country.”  

Conroy added, “Moreover, a share of the revenue produced can be invested to meet the transportation and education needs of today and the distant future.”

Tufts Economics Professor Gilbert Metcalf, recently Deputy Assistant Secretary for Environment and Energy at the U.S. Treasury, told the Committee that similar taxes elsewhere had not hurt their regional economies. Testifying in favor were George Bacharach, president of the Environmental League of Massachusetts, and Phil Sego of the Sierra Club. Also present to lend support was Carlisle resident Launa Zimmaro of the League of Women Voters, which has endorsed the bill.

After the hearing, Revenue Committee Chairs Rep. Jay Kaufman (D-Lexington) and Sen. Michael Rodrigues (D-Westport) announced formation of a special working subcommittee to explore moving forward on the bill.