WASHINGTON (September 27, 2007)—House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-Mich.) posted a draft bill on his Web site that proposes instituting a carbon tax to address global warming. Key elements of the bill include a $50 tax per ton of carbon dioxide emitted from fossil fuel use, such as burning coal and natural gas; a 50-cent-per-gallon tax hike on gasoline and jet fuel; and a phase-out of the mortgage interest tax deduction for homes larger than 3,000 square feet. Below is a statement by Brendan Bell, Washington representative at the Union of Concerned Scientists:

"Considering a carbon tax makes sense, but it can't be an alternative to passing an energy bill.

Chairman Dingell is acknowledging that we have to look at every solution to global warming, but energy prices are only one part of the equation. Before Congress considers passing a carbon tax, it needs to give consumers better choices by finalizing an energy bill that raises fuel economy standards and requires utilities to generate more electricity from renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind. Raising fuel economy standards and boosting renewable energy production are proven methods to reduce global warming emissions, while lowering consumer energy bills and enhancing America's energy security.

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