Is it possible to reduce carbon emissions AND help families financially at the same time?

Yes!  The Carbon Cashback bill would place a fee on fossil fuel to nudge families to choose options with lower or no emissions.  Carbon Cashback would also distribute the revenue from the fee to people in equal shares as a dividend.

Those who consume low amounts of fossil fuel would pay low carbon fees.  They would get the same dividend as everyone else, so they would come out ahead financially.  In fact, most of Hawaii’s families would experience a net financial benefit.

Generally, low-income families would benefit the most because they spend relatively little on fossil fuel.  Moderate income families spend more on fossil fuel, and they would still come out ahead, but not as much.  The results would be mixed for high-income families.  Some would come out ahead or break even, and others would pay more in carbon fees than their dividend.

The bottom line is that a great majority of Hawaii’s families would benefit financially from Carbon Cashback.  In these times when many of Hawaii’s families are struggling financially, Carbon Cashback would make it a little easier for them to stay within their budgets.  These immediate benefits would come in addition to the long-term benefits that come with reducing carbon emissions and mitigating the costs that come with climate change.