A group of prominent Indiana Republican leaders, including state legislators, local elected officials, county party chairs and young Republicans, have launched Hoosiers for Carbon Dividends
The organization is dedicated to advancing the Baker-Shultz Carbon Dividends Plan, which they say is a conservative climate solution that protects our natural environment and positions our manufacturers to lead the world as it transitions to clean energy.
Supported by a broad coalition of stakeholders, the Baker-Shultz Carbon Dividends Plan has brought together business leaders, conservatives, economists, environmental leaders and young voters hungry to implement a bipartisan breakthrough on climate. Founding members of Hoosiers for Carbon Dividends include State Senator Ron Grooms, State Representative Cindy Ziemke and former Martinsville Mayor Shannon Kohl.
“We at Hoosiers for Carbon Dividends support the Baker-Shultz Plan because it would cut U.S. carbon emissions in half by 2035, reward innovation, grow Indiana’s working economy and hold major foreign polluters accountable for their emissions,” founding members of the coalition stated. “It’s the right solution, at the right time, with the right advantages for our manufacturers and the American people.”
Advocates say among the many benefits to the plan’s framework, it would allow American-based industries to leverage their existing carbon advantage to outcompete foreign production through a Border Carbon Adjustment. As a result, energy-intensive industries, like steel, would be uniquely positioned to gain a competitive advantage. In fact, according to a recent report, sales of steel would increase as much as nine percent, profitability would see a 41 percent increase and imports would decrease by as much as 50 percent.
Indy Politics spoke with George Gemelas, Executive Vice President, Students for Carbon Dividends.
The Leon-Tailored Audio runs for about 20 minutes.
