There was an interesting proposal made this week by some members in the House to impose the nation's first ever tax on carbon dioxide emissions.  Under the proposal, the state would collect $37 for each ton of excess carbon dioxide emitted by utility companies.  The bill failed at a vote of 51-74 but was later amended into Senate Bill 471 by a vote of 78-42. That proposal was defeated on final action at 51-74.  

Concerns were raised that the carbon tax proposal did not truly make an effort to decrease Kansas' carbon footprint.  Instead, the proposal was seen as a political maneuver- targeting opponents of two highly publicized coal-fired power plant projects in Holcomb, Kansas.  If enacted, a coal tax would shift the financial cost of environmental responsibility from utility companies to consumers' energy bills. 

Earlier in the session, the energy bill, House Bill 2711, proposed a coal tax of $3 for each ton of excess carbon dioxide emissions, but the tax was removed in committee.  This amendment would create 12 times more taxes on existing utilities than originally proposed.  The added tax would move directly to the pocketbooks of Kansas families in the form of increased energy rates.

I strongly believe that utility companies and lawmakers must work together to provide clean and affordable energy options in Kansas.  As we work to develop a comprehensive energy policy for the state, we must ensure that Kansas consumers reap the benefits of environmental stewardship- not the cost.