Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2023

The Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2023 (H.R. 5744) is a bill in the United States House of Representatives that proposes a fee on carbon at the point of extraction to encourage market-driven innovation of clean energy technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The fees are recycled to citizens in monthly dividends. Most recently on September 27, 2023, the bill was reintroduced in the 118th Congress as H. R. 5744, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2023.[1] The act was originally introduced in 2018 with bipartisan support from six co-sponsors and died when the 115th congress ended on 3 January 2019.[2] It is principally based on Citizens' Climate Lobby's carbon fee and dividend proposal, and this organization advocates for the bill.[3]

Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2023
Great Seal of the United States
Long titleTo create a Carbon Dividend Trust Fund for the American people in order to encourage market-driven innovation of clean energy technologies and market efficiencies which will reduce harmful pollution and leave a healthier, more stable, and more prosperous Nation for future generations
Enacted bythe 118th United States Congress
Citations
Public lawH.R.5744 - Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2023
Codification
Acts amendedInternal Revenue Code
Clean Air Act
Legislative history

2018 bill

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The Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2018 was a proposed 2018 bill that intended to "create a Carbon Dividend Trust Fund for the American people in order to encourage market-driven innovation of clean energy technologies and market efficiencies which will reduce harmful pollution and leave a healthier, more stable, and more prosperous nation for future generations." The bill was originally introduced by Representative Ted Deutch (D-FL) on November 27, 2018, with bipartisan support from 4 co-sponsors.[4] A companion bill was introduced into the United States Senate by Chris Coons (D-DE) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ) on December 19, 2018.[5] The bill died when the 115th Congress ended on January 3, 2019. The bill was reintroduced in the 116th Congress as the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2019.

2019 bill

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On 24 January 2019, the bill was reintroduced into the house by Representative Ted Deutch on behalf of himself and six other original cosponsors.[6]

The 2019 version obtained 86 but was not voted on.

2021 bill

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On April 1, 2021, the bill was reintroduced in the 117th Congress as H.R. 2307, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2021.[7][8]

Description of the bill

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The bill intends to:

If passed, the 2023 bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to:[9]

It would also make adjustments to the Clean Air Act to limit the Environmental Protection Agency from placing restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions under some conditions.

Cosponsors

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As of September 27, 2023, the bill has been introduced multiple times in the House of Representatives. The sponsors have varied from year to year.[10]

Sponsor Party District 2018 Sponsor 2019 Sponsor 2021 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor
Brian Fitzpatrick Republican PA-8 Yes No No No
Ted Deutch Former Democrat N/A Yes Yes Yes
Judy Chu Democratic CA-27 Yes Yes Yes No
Charlie Crist Democratic FL-13 Yes Yes Yes No
Anna Eshoo Democratic CA-18 Yes Yes Yes No
Dan Lipinski Former Democrat N/A Yes Yes
Francis Rooney Former Republican N/A Yes Yes
Scott Peters Democratic CA-52 Yes Yes Yes No
Dean Phillips Democratic MN-03 No Yes Yes No
Hank Johnson Democratic GA-04 No Yes Yes No
Salud Carbajal Democratic CA-24 Yes Yes Yes Yes
Alcee Hastings Democratic FL-20 No Yes No No
Susan Wild Democratic PA-15 No Yes Yes No
Yvette Clarke Democratic NY-09 No Yes No No
Jackie Speier Democratic CA-14 No Yes Yes No
Jan Schakowsky Democratic IL-09 No Yes Yes No
Gerry Connolly Democratic VA-11 No Yes Yes No
Chellie Pingree Democratic ME-01 No Yes Yes No
Mark DeSaulnier Democratic CA-11 No Yes Yes No
Adam Schiff Democratic CA-28 No Yes Yes No
Angie Craig Democratic MN-02 No Yes Yes No
Tom Malinowski Democratic NJ-07 No Yes Yes No
Albio Sires Democratic NJ-08 No Yes Yes No
Harley Rouda Former Democrat N/A Yes Yes
Jim McGovern Democratic MA-02 No Yes Yes No
Barbara Lee Democratic CA-13 No Yes Yes No
Gil Cisneros Former Democrat N/A Yes Yes
Mike Levin Democratic CA-49 Yes Yes Yes No
Pete Aguilar Democratic CA-31 Yes Yes Yes No
Denny Heck Democratic WA-10 Yes Yes Yes No
Katie Porter Democratic CA-45 Yes Yes Yes No
Robin Kelly Democratic IL-02 Yes Yes Yes No
Al Lawson Democratic FL-05 Yes Yes Yes No
Jim Himes Democratic CT-04 Yes Yes Yes No
Andy Levin Democratic MI-09 Yes Yes Yes No
Ted Lieu Democratic CA-33 Yes Yes Yes No
Seth Moulton Democratic MA-06 Yes Yes Yes No
Jamie Raskin Democratic MD-08 Yes Yes Yes No
Veronica Escobar Democratic TX-16 Yes Yes Yes No
Kathleen Rice Democratic NY-04 Yes Yes Yes No
David Price Democratic NC-04 Yes Yes Yes No
Susan Davis Democratic CA-53 Yes Yes Yes No
Alma Adams Democratic NC-12 Yes Yes Yes No
Dwight Evans Democratic PA-03 Yes Yes Yes No
Madeleine Dean Democratic PA-04 Yes Yes Yes No
Bennie Thompson Democratic MS-02 Yes Yes Yes No
Dan Kildee Democratic MI-05 Yes Yes Yes No
Steve Cohen Democratic TN-09 Yes Yes Yes No
Joe Neguse Democratic CO-02 Yes Yes Yes No
Danny Davis Democratic IL-07 Yes Yes Yes No
Brenda Lawrence Democratic MI-14 Yes Yes Yes No
David Trone Democratic MD-06 Yes Yes Yes No
Matt Cartwright Democratic PA-08 Yes Yes Yes No
Karen Bass Democratic CA-37 Yes Yes Yes No
Bonnie Watson Coleman Democratic NJ-12 Yes Yes Yes No
Dutch Ruppersberger Democratic MD-02 Yes Yes Yes No
Joseph Morelle Democratic NY-25 Yes Yes Yes No
Derek Kilmer Democratic WA-06 Yes Yes Yes No
Lucy McBath Democratic GA-06 Yes Yes Yes No
Ed Perlmutter Democratic CO-07 Yes Yes Yes No
Emanuel Cleaver Democratic MO-05 Yes Yes Yes No
Brad Sherman Democratic CA-30 Yes Yes Yes No
Jesús "Chuy" García Democratic IL-04 Yes Yes Yes No
Thomas Suozzi Democratic NY-03 Yes Yes Yes No
Lou Correa Democratic CA-46 Yes Yes Yes No
Lucille Roybal-Allard Democratic CA-40 Yes Yes Yes No
Grace Meng Democratic NY-06 Yes Yes Yes No
Linda Sánchez Democratic CA-38 Yes Yes Yes No
John Yarmuth Democratic KY-03 Yes Yes Yes No
Gregory Meeks Democratic NY-05 Yes Yes Yes No
Sanford Bishop Democratic GA-02 Yes Yes Yes No
Sean Patrick Maloney Democratic NY-18 Yes Yes Yes No
Donald M. Payne Democratic NJ-10 Yes Yes Yes No
Lacy Clay Democratic MO-1 Yes Yes Yes No
Ami Bera Democratic CA-7 Yes Yes Yes No
Ann McLane Kuster Democratic NH-02 Yes Yes Yes No
Grace Napolitano Democratic CA-32 Yes Yes Yes No
Mary Gay Scanlon Democratic PA-05 Yes Yes Yes No
Jason Crow Democratic CO-06 Yes Yes Yes No
Frederica Wilson Democratic FL-24 Yes Yes Yes No
Tony Cardenas Democratic CA-29 Yes Yes Yes No
Norma Torres Democratic CA-35 Yes Yes Yes No
Mike Quigley Democratic IL-05 Yes Yes Yes No
Andre Carson Democratic IN-07 Yes Yes Yes No
John Garamendi Democratic CA-03 Yes Yes Yes No
Joyce Beatty Democratic OH-03 Yes Yes Yes No

Reactions

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The Center on Global Energy Policy published a comparison of the 2018 version of the bill to other carbon tax proposals.[11]

Support

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In the weeks following the reintroduction of the bill, several publications including The Washington Post,[12] the Missoulian,[13] and the Daily Camera[14] published op-eds and editorials in support of the bill.

The bill is also supported by climate scientist and activist James Hansen and former secretary of state George Shultz. The governments (or parts of the governments) of several localities, including the following with more than 50,000 residents, have signed resolutions urging the United States Congress to pass the act:[15]

It has also been publicly supported by several small businesses and nonprofit organizations including Protect Our Winters.

The Environmental Defense Fund called it "an inspiring step in the right direction."[17]

Opposition

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The Center for Biological Diversity published a press release opposing the bill on the basis that its adjustments to the Clean Air Act would "only give us climate disaster."[18]

In April 2019, novelist and leading member of Orange County for Climate Action Roger Gloss posted his opposition to HR 763, noting the lack of annual emissions targets, and the first assessment of whether targets are being met in 2030, the year in which the IPCC says emissions must have already been halved.[19]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2023 (H.R. 5744)". GovTrack.us. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  2. ^ Conradis, Brandon (2018-11-27). "Bipartisan group of lawmakers propose landmark carbon tax". TheHill. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
  3. ^ "The Bipartisan Climate Solution". Citizens' Climate Lobby. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  4. ^ Conradis, Brandon (2018-11-27). "Bipartisan group of lawmakers propose landmark carbon tax". TheHill. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
  5. ^ Coons, Christopher A. (2018-12-19). "S.3791 - 115th Congress (2017-2018): Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2018". www.congress.gov. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  6. ^ "Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2019 (H.R. 763)". GovTrack.us. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  7. ^ "Major Carbon Fee & Dividend Bill Reintroduced in House". Congressman Ted Deutch. 2021-04-01. Retrieved 2021-08-06.
  8. ^ "H.R. 2307: Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2021". Govtrack. Retrieved 2021-08-06.
  9. ^ a b Deutch, Theodore E. "Text - H.R.5744 - 118th Congress: Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2023".
  10. ^ Deutch, Theodore E. (2019-02-12). "Cosponsors - H.R.763 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2019". www.congress.gov. Retrieved 2019-04-19.
  11. ^ "Columbia | SIPA Center on Global Energy Policy | How the Bipartisan Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act Compares to Other Carbon Tax Proposals". energypolicy.columbia.edu. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
  12. ^ Juhnke, Richard (January 18, 2019). "One answer to the environmental alarms going off". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  13. ^ ATKINS, DAVE and SHIRLEY. "Urge passage of Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act". missoulian.com. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  14. ^ "John Russell: Support the Energy Innovation Act". dailycamera.com. 21 December 2018. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  15. ^ "Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act Supporters". Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  16. ^ "Memorandum, H.R.763 (Deutch): Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2019". sanjoseca.gov. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  17. ^ "New Bipartisan Congressional Bill Would Help Reduce Climate Pollution, Protect Americans". Environmental Defense Fund. Retrieved 2019-05-23.
  18. ^ "Carbon Dividend Bill in House Would Gut Clean Air Act Authority to Stop Climate Change". www.biologicaldiversity.org. Retrieved 2019-04-22.
  19. ^ "H.R. 763 - A Tax That's Not a Tax, A Solution That's Not a Solution". Roger's Library. 2019-04-02. Retrieved 2021-08-07.
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