Bay Area air board approves global-warming fees for businesses

Contra Costa Times ^ | 5/21/8 | Denis Cuff

[SmithL]

SAN FRANCISCO — The Bay Area's air pollution board today became the first in the United States to charge businesses fees for the global warming gases they emit.

The fees, ranging from $180,000 a year for a large oil refinery to $1 annually for a service station, would fund district efforts to calculate, study and control carbon dioxide, methane and other warming gases.

Representatives of oil refineries and several business groups opposed the fee, saying it would duplicate and interfere with the state's landmark law to control global warming gases statewide.

Air board administrators and board members said their efforts would complement the attempts by the California Air Resources Board to rein in global warming gases.

The fees were approved on a 15-1 vote. Mike Shimansky, a Danville Town Council member who serves on the Bay Area board, said he worries that once established, the fees will grow sharply in coming years.

The fees, effective July 1, will raise $1.1 million from 2,500 Bay Area businesses that already have air district permits that limit their emissions of smog-forming gases. Most would pay $1 or less a year.

[William Tell]

umgud said: "These refiners could easily afford at least a million a year"

I think they could easily afford $100 million per year.

[Leftism is Mentally Deranged]

I said before that this carbon crap was about taxes.

[HIDEK6]

Could someone tell me how taxing refineries and gas stations is going to solve this imaginary problem?

[Bean Counter]

There is even a good way to quantify all of this...

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

Why is anyone in their right mind trying to run a business in California? It can’t be worth it.

[Alia]

From article: The fees were approved on a 15-1 vote. Mike Shimansky, a Danville Town Council member who serves on the Bay Area board, said he worries that once established, the fees will grow sharply in coming years.

They will; count on it. Next the SF Counsel will decide which counties surrounding SF have the most "workers" driving into the City -- they'll go after that county to "contribute".

SF has tried this before using another method.

[calcowgirl]

Stop the world. I wanna get off.

[Lazamataz]

Good MORNING VIETNAM.

They would need to f***ing kill me to get one cent out of the pants pockets of my trousers for this fee.

[Lazamataz]

My first inclination as a business owner would be to refuse to pay.

.... while reloading hot rifle loads with bullets containing tungstun rod cores.

......and quietly cackling and muttering to myself.

Naked.