Boulder Climate Action Plan

General information

In November 2006, citizens of Boulder, Colorado, voted to approve Ballot Issue No. 202, authorizing the city council to levy and collect an excise tax from residential, commercial and industrial electricity customers for the purpose of funding a climate action plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The plan outlines programs to increase energy efficiency, increase renewable energy use, reduce emissions from motor vehicles, and take other steps toward meeting the goals set in the Kyoto Protocol.

Beginning April 1, 2007, and expiring March 31, 2013, the initial tax rate was set at $0.0022/kWh for residential customers, $0.0004/kWh for commercial customers, and $0.0002/kWh for industrial customers. The city council has the authority to increase the tax after the first year up to a maximum permitted tax rate of $0.0049/kWh for residential customers; $0.0009/kWh for commercial customers; and $0.0003/kWh for industrial customers. Voluntary purchases of utility-provided wind power are exempt from the tax.

Allocation and generation of fund

Charge: March 2010 rates for electricity customers:

**Total Fund: **$860,265 in the first year and up to $1,342,000/year thereafter through March 31, 2013 Purpose: Renewable energy, energy efficiency, transportation.

Incentive authority

Authority 1: Ballot Issue 202 (Climate Action Plan Tax) Date Enacted:11/7/2006

Authority 2: Boulder Revised Code 3-12 Date Effective: 4/1/2007 Expiration Date: 3/31/2013

References

References

1. City of Boulder R.S. 3–12, accessed 2010-02-02 ([https://web.archive.org/web/20100920073916/http://colocode.com/boulder2/chapter3-12.htm archived link])
2. "Homepage | City of Boulder".
3. "Archived copy".
4. "Colorado Code Publishing Company - Boulder Revised Code - Chapter 3-12".