Big News: HR 2307 The Energy Innovation And Carbon Dividend Act Of 2021 Hits The House!!
Brett Cease
3862 Posts

Congratulations everyone! 🎉 Today the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2021 (H.R. 2307) has been reintroduced into the House by Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL-22) and 28 original cosponsors. Tune in to learn the updates and details. 

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Here's the full update on CCL Community Bulletin and post your questions here in the Energy Innovation Act Forums! 😀

The new 117th Congress H.R.2307 bill is also up on Congress.gov here: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2307/cosponsors

Quick additional pro-tip to pass on to your network:
 

To get alerts as the bill moves through committees, has additional sponsors added, and encounters any other action, click on the "Get alerts" link right below the title. You'll have to create an account to have this service, but it's worth it for instant notifications sent directly to your preferred inbox. 
21 Replies
I'm sure this info will be forthcoming, but I'm really curious about any differences between this bill and the previous version. In particular, I'm curious whether the regulatory pause remains the same.
Brett Cease
3862 Posts
Thanks Sarah! Great question - in short, the regulatory pause language was removed in this reintroduced bill. 

For more head-to-head comparisons see: Energy Innovation Act Comparison Chart and for more detailed the Q&A has been updated: Energy Innovation Act Q&A
Thank you, Brett! Those are really helpful resources!
Is the plastic exemption gone too? Please say yes...
Brett Cease
3862 Posts
Thanks Elaine the Energy Innovation Act Section-by-Section Analysis highlights that for the new bill Sec. 9902 still provides an exemption and refund of fee for fuels not combusted (e.g. oil used in plastics).
Tony Sirna
783 Posts
I've never really considered it a "plastic exemption". There is an exemption for non-emitting uses. This includes plastics, but also includes chemicals like pharmaceuticals, carbon fibers, etc. Many of these chemicals and plastics are useful products that are important to our daily lives (think medical gear).

From: https://community.citizensclimate.org/handling-challenging-questions
 

Background

The vast majority of oil used globally is burned. Only 4% is used to produce plastics and another 9% for chemicals and other purposes (carbon fibers, asphalt, petroleum jelly, etc.). For uses of fossil fuels that will not result in greenhouse gas emissions, any carbon fees put on that unburned feedstock would be refunded to the manufacturer of the non-emitting product. Any fossil-based energy used or fuel combusted in the manufacturing process would not receive a refund.

For the most part, fossil fuel-based carbon in plastic does not turn into greenhouse gases, unless the plastic is incinerated.

What you might say

Consider asking a question to find out more about their underlying concern.

While there are many people concerned about the impacts from the production, use, and disposal of plastics and other petrochemicals, this policy is focused only on the climate impacts from fossil fuels. All greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels would be subject to the fee.

Other environmental impacts can be addressed through other policies.

You’ve never thought of it as a plastic exemption? Getting rid of that would get rid of 99% of new plastic pollution. It would certainly allow medical use of plastic. The slight increase in cost would not affect the availability of medical plastic.


Elaine Salinger

Joanne Leovy
494 Posts
How are “eligible households” defined for purposes of dividend distribution?  My MoC is very concerned about the exclusions in the Cares Act (citizens and green card holders were excluded from stimulus payments if they live in a household with an undocumented person), so defining “eligible households” is a key issue.
Brett Cease
3862 Posts
Thanks for asking Joanne - in the Details of the Text Training, here's the language the reintroduced bill text says about who is covered:
 
Who will receive the dividends?

Section 9512. (c)(3), p. 29 - line 16:

‘‘(C) ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL .—The ‘eligible individual’ means, with respect to any month, any natural living person who has a valid Social Security number or taxpayer identification number and is a citizen or lawful resident of the United States (other than any individual who is a citizen of any possession of the United States and whose bona fide residence is outside of the United States). The Secretary is authorized to verify an individual’s eligibility to receive a carbon dividend payment."

Brett Cease
3862 Posts
Update! The bill number has been assigned (H.R. 2307) and is posted on Congress.gov here for anyone interested in tracking actions/cosponsors: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2307 🎉
 How would HR2307 compliment the Thrive Act - Infrastructure Bill?
Sara Wanous
243 Posts
Hi Dennis! The THRIVE Act appears to be a plan to authorize $1T/year in spending on infrastructure improvements with requirements that it not be spent on additional fossil fuel infrastructure and that EJ communities be involved in the direction of the money. It doesn't look like it's been officially introduced as a bill yet. 

Infrastructure spending isn't discussed in the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act. The strong price signal that it sends to transition to clean energy would provide incentive to invest in some kinds of infrastructure (like to support electrification and clean energy projects), but dedicated infrastructure spending is not discussed and would accelerate these changes and support other infrastructure challenges. 

If you're interested in thinking about how different policies might compliment the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, let me plug next Monday's iteration of the Economic Benefits of CFD series! We'll be discussing complementary policies (:

 
Thanks, Sara.
Sen. Markey and Representative Debbie Dingell reintroduced the T.H.R.I.V.E. Act in February 2021.
https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-rep-dingell-reintroduce-thrive-resolution-to-build-back-economy-following-coronavirus-pandemic
 
Sara Wanous
243 Posts
Hi Dennis, This confused me for a minute too - this link is about the THRIVE Resolution! This resolution outlines the goals that the cosponsors would like to see Congress adopt that would likely be followed by legislation to realize those goals, but itself would not change any laws if passed. The THRIVE website does reference a THRIVE Act as well so it sounds like they're putting together legislation that would do that but I'm not finding it on congress.gov so I don't believe it's been officially introduced. 
John Sabin
492 Posts
Sara, I am intrigued by what you are saying here. Elizabeth Dell has been trying to articulate how EICDA can serve as a "solutions multiplier." Can you articulate this idea further? How might EICDA incentivize other helpful pieces of climate legislation? 

thanks!

john
When was "Today"?  The footer says only "Apr '21".  (I think "today" was April 1, 2021, but I'd like confirmation.)
Brett Cease
3862 Posts
Confirmed! 4/1/21 :)
Brett Cease
3862 Posts
Update! The legislative text is now posted on Congress.gov here:  https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2307/text 😀

Any news on a republican sponsor?

Brett Cease
3862 Posts

Thanks @Analicia Hazelby!

No Republican cosponsor yet but you can always check yourself on Congress.gov here: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2307/cosponsors

Quick additional pro-tip to pass on to your network:
 
To get alerts as the bill moves through committees, has additional sponsors added, and encounters any other action, click on the "Get alerts" link right below the title. You'll have to create an account to have this service, but it's worth it for instant notifications sent directly to your preferred inbox 😀

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