Plans for cap-and-trade, carbon taxes, and other financial tools to curb global warming may float in and out of the national forum. But on a more local level, a price has already been placed on greenhouse gas emissions; it's $3.07 per ton.
While having the revenue from a carbon tax go towards alternative energy would be ideal, even if it doesn't the cap and trade program will still have a positive affect on the overall level of emissions. If companies know that carbon is going to have a cost associated with it they will factor that into their budgets and reducing the amount of carbon they produce will have a direct economic benefit. This will make "green" sources of energy an even more attractive option as they become more cost competitive with fossil fuels.
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