Top Stories
B.C.'s carbon tax is looking like a winner.—reliability
high.
"During 2008 and 2009, the tax raised $846 mln. However, the province
tied the carbon tax to reductions in personal and corporate income
taxes, as well as tax credits to offset impacts on low-income
individuals. The total value of these offsetting cuts was nearly $1.1
bln over those two years, meaning a net tax reduction for B.C.
taxpayers of about $230 mln. ... And the initiative is drawing global
praise. Harvard business professor Michael Porter -- a world-renowned
competitiveness guru -- recently stated: 'The right policy regime is a
carbon tax, and the province of British Columbia has pretty much got it
right.' The director of the U.K.'s Green Fiscal Commission, Dr. Paul
Ekins, went even further, calling B.C.'s policy 'a model for the
world.'" From Ottawa
Citizen. [Now
the question is whether this tax is doing anything to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions. Some evidence of slight reductions. The tax will rise
over time, and begin to change behaviors at some point.]
MPS and businesses call for mandatory UK
carbon reporting.—reliability high.
"A powerful coalition of MPs, business leaders and environmentalist
has written an open letter to three coalition ministers insisting that
the government fulfil its pre-election pledge to make carbon reporting
mandatory for all large organisations. ... Signatories include Aviva,
AXA Investment Managers, Biffa, BT, Centrica, Jupiter, Lend Lease,
Microsoft, National Grid, Pepsico, Siemens, Scottish and Southern
Energy, The Co-operative, Veolia, Willmott Dixon, the WWF, the RSPB and
over 25 MPs. See BusinessGreen.
Companies,
Industries, Markets and Supply Chains
VF 247 Solar Powered Phone Unveiled By
Vodafone In India.—reliability high.
"Vodafone Essar Ltd. has unveiled a solar-powered mobile handset in
India to better serve the nation's energy-starved rural masses. India
has been adding nearly 20 million mobile subscribers each month, many
of them in rural areas, where electricity supply can be patchy at best.
... The VF 247 Solar Powered phone, priced at 1,500 rupees ($32),
should be available in stores next month. It needs eight hours of
direct sunlight to be fully charged and can support more than eight
days of use on standby and four hours of talk time. It also comes with
an electronic charger, an FM radio and a powerful torch light." Story
at Huffington
Post from AP.
2011 Chevrolet Volt to be priced at $41,000,
$350/month lease for 36 months.—reliability medium.
"General Motors ... finally revealed that the 2011 Chevrolet Volt will
have a base price of $41,000 (including the $720 destination charge)
before federal and state tax incentives. While GM hasn't gone as
aggressive as most people had hoped on the sticker price, the real deal
appears to be the $350 per month for a 36-month lease. That matches the
monthly payment that Nissan is charging for the Leaf electric car." See
Autoblog
Green.
Government and
Regulation
Rajasthan bans plastic carry-bags.—reliability
high.
"the Rajasthan Government on Monday announced a complete ban on use of
plastic carry-bags all over the State from August 1. A notification
declared the entire State a 'plastic carry-bag-free zone'. According to
an official release here, the prohibition will also apply to
manufacture, storage, import, sale and transport of plastic carry-bags.
No shopkeeper, retailer, trader, hawker or vendor will be allowed to
supply goods to consumers in these carry-bags." See article in The
Hindu. [Presumably
plastic bags were used because they were cheaper than paper, so prices
may go up a bit. The costs of the externalities of plastic bags will be
reduced. Go long on paper?]
Science and
Economics
Carbon cutting measures will add just £13 to
UK household energy bills.—reliability high.
"By the end of the decade, average households bills for both gas and
electricity would be £1,239 a year, just £13 higher than estimated
bills without the policies, though nearly £200 a year higher than
current combined bills. The impact on businesses would be much steeper,
however, the government estimates show. ... Energy prices would rise
much more steeply, but most of the increases for households would be
offset by improvements to insulation and grants to encourage more home
generation of renewable energy such as solar and wind power, some of
which can also be sold to the National Grid." Story at The
Guardian environment blog. Dept. of Energy and Climate Change press
release here.