Why the Government Should Drink Your Milkshake: The Case for Restructuring the Federal Gas Tax
35 Journal of Corporation Law 393 (2009)
31 Pages Posted: 17 Jul 2015
Date Written: 2009
Abstract
Recognizing the need for government involvement in the energy market, clean energy advocates support a diversity of policies, including, for example, feed-in tariffs, net metering, renewable portfolio standards, a cap-and-trade scheme for carbon emissions, and subsidies for clean energy technologies. In particular, many scholars, policymakers, and industry insiders have suggested harnessing the power of taxes to influence how businesses and individuals make their energy investment and consumption decisions. An expanding group of scholars proposes the enactment of a variable tax, including a federally-mandated “price floor,” on oil or gasoline. This Note explores this option as one component of America’s strategy to address climate change and oil dependence.
Keywords: gasoline, tax, oil, petroleum, fossil fuel, climate change, oil dependence
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