Climate Changed

Washington to Decide on First-of-Its-Kind U.S. Carbon Fee

  • Measure could be first enacted by referendum in the world
  • Governor sees carbon effort raising $2.3 billion by 2025

Water vapor rises from a fossil plant.

Photographer: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg
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Whatever you do, don’t call it a tax.

Voters in Washington state will go to the polls Nov. 6 to decide whether or not they want to impose a first-of-its-kind “fee” on carbon emissions. Ballot initiative 1631 marks the second time the state will vote to put a cost on emissions. A prior effort, labeled a carbon tax, failed when it was on the ballot two years ago.