House Bill Would Charge Cargo Ships for Pollution
Two Califorinia Democrats introduced a bill to impose a $150 per ton fee on greenhouse gas emissions on cargo ships arriving in U.S. ports, plus $6.30 per pound for nitrogen oxides, $18 per pound for sulfur dioxide and $38.90 per pound for particle pollution emitted in U.S. waters. They estimated the fee would bring in $250 billion over 10 years.
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Communications Daily is required reading for senior executives at top telecom corporations, law firms, lobbying organizations, associations and government agencies (including the FCC). Join them today!
Rep. Doris Matsui and Rep. Kevin Mullin are the co-sponsors. Matsui said in a press release announcing the bill, "The International Maritime Pollution Accountability Act takes aggressive action to accelerate the decarbonization of our maritime shipping industry, pushing forward investments in greener, more sustainable technology and infrastructure.”
Mullin said, "To mitigate the worst impacts of climate change, we must decarbonize our economy, which starts with addressing carbon-intensive industries such as maritime shipping."
The fees would increase by the inflation rate plus 5% annually. Vessels at or above 10,000 gross tons would be subject to the fee.
The Environmental Defense Fund, Pacific Environment and Ocean Conservancy hailed the bill.