The Ballot

Initiative 202 proposes that a tax be collected by Xcel Energy, based on electricity usage, to fund the City of Boulder's Climate Action Plan – a thoroughly-researched blueprint for reducing our climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions. An average residential household would pay around $20 per year.

Ballot Issue No. 202:

Climate Action Plan Tax

Shall the City of Boulder taxes be increased $860,265 annually (in the first year), and up to $1,342,000 each year thereafter for the period of April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2013, by authorizing the City Council to levy and collect a Climate Action Plan tax as an excise tax upon persons consuming electricity as residential, commercial, or industrial customers, and providing an exemption for voluntary purchases of utility provide wind power. The tax shall be established with a first year rate of $0.0022 per kilowatt hour (kWh) for residential customers, $0.0004 per kWh for commercial customers, and $0.0002 per kWh for industrial customers. The tax shall take effect on April 1, 2007 and expire on March 31, 2013, and shall be for the purpose of funding a Climate Action Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The measure would establish city council authority to increase the tax after the first year up to a maximum permitted tax rate of $0.0049 per kWh for residential customers; $0.0009 per kWh for commercial customers; and $0.0003 per kWh for industrial customers.

Tax revenues generated would be used to implement programs to increase energy efficiency, increase renewable energy use, reduce emissions from motor vehicles, and take other steps toward the goal of meeting the Kyoto Protocol.

And in connection with the Climate Action Plan tax:

Shall the full proceeds of such taxes at such rates and any earnings therefrom be collected and spend without limitation or condition, and without limiting the collection or spending of any other revenues or funds by the City of Boulder, under article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution or any other law?