Our new administration in Washington continues to attempt to repair our economy. While many people have their own opinions of how President Obama should proceed, it is painfully apparent that the fix will be a long one and it may be 2010 before we begin to see substantial signs of economic recovery. The loss of jobs in this country has been staggering as has the loss of jobs just in our communities. Despite our leaders' best efforts, the unemployment rate in this state alone continues to grow.

During the president's first 100 days in office one thing was made abundantly clear, the new administration will press hard for the carbon tax. Talk of a carbon tax immediately alarmed everyone in the utility industry. So what is a carbon tax and why has it created so much concern? Well, it is simply a tax placed on facilties that release carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. Every facility in this country, like coal-fired power plants, that releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere must monitor the amount of CO2 that it releases. Many government agencies monitor these facilities and have set limits on how much carbon can be released every year. A carbon tax would apply a fee for each ton of carbon that is emitted into the atmosphere.

The tax will be calculated by taking the tons of CO2 released above the imposed levels and multiplying a dollar amount per ton. The only catch here is you know who will ultimately pay this tax--you, the member. Any tax placed on companies will always be passed through to the end user. This will be no different. For example, if a carbon tax of $30 per ton is imposed on all coal-fired electric generatng facilities, you could expect a $24 per month tax added to your electric bill. Or if a $75 per ton tax is imposed you could have a $43 per month tax added to your electric bill. Folks, this could become a reality sooner than we originally expected.

President Obama has indicated that he intends to press for a carbon tax as soon as he can. He has addressed this many times recently. He contends that we need this to clean up the environment. However, he fails to talk about who is going to pick up the tab. It is amazing how this has progressed so quickly and without a great public outcry. No matter what side of the "global warming" issue you stand, this new tax is real and we will all pay it.

If you feel that the CO2 from man-made sources is causing problems, then I invite you to pay attention to the other side of the global warming issue. Today, there are as many or more scientists coming forward stressing that global warming is a myth and has no scientific data to prove its existence. These experts say that the warming that we have experienced is mainly due to the heat from the sun and it is nothing more than normal weather patterns. I invite you to go online and type in "The great global warming swindle movie." I think after you watch this you will begin to see that this global warming train has much more political support than scientific fact. Whether you agree or disagree, the fact is that a carbon tax could be in our immediate future and every citizen of this country will pay it. We have stressd to our legislators that all of our members will ultimately pay to fund all of the president's new environmental programs and that this would be extremely difficult for a lot of people who are already struggling to pay their bills. I invite you to join us in our quest to reach those in Washington who could son make this decision.

If you would like to make your voice heard in Washington about this new carbon tax, please contact your legislators now.Let them know how you feel about higher electric bills and funding environmental efforts that will be fruitless.

Senator Jeff Sessions
Web site: Sessions.senate.gov
Phone:     (202)224-4124 (Washington)
                (334)244-7017 (Montgomery)

Senator Richard C. Shelby
Web Site: Shelby.senate.gov
Phone:     (202)224-5744 (Washington)
                (334)759-5047 (Tuscaloosa)