Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2018

Findings

The Congress finds that— (1)efficient markets strengthen our economy and benefit our Nation by encouraging competition, innovation, and technological progress; (2)efficient markets should reflect all costs of goods to ensure that they advance America’s prosperity and national interests; (3)emissions of carbon pollution and other harmful pollutants into our Nation’s air impose substantial costs on all Americans and on future generations; and (4)creation of a Carbon Dividend Trust Fund, to be distributed to the American people, will make markets more efficient, create jobs, and stimulate competition, innovation, and technological progress that benefit all Americans and future generations.

Carbon dividends and carbon fee

(a)

In general

The Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new subtitle:

CARBON DIVIDENDS AND CARBON FEE

Chapter 101. Carbon Fees

Chapter 102. Carbon Border Fee Adjustment

101

Carbon Fees

Sec. 9901. Definitions.

Sec. 9902. Carbon fee.

Sec. 9903. Emissions reduction schedule.

Sec. 9904. Fee on fluorinated greenhouse gases.

Sec. 9905. Decommissioning of Carbon Administration.

Sec. 9906. Carbon Capture and Sequestration.

Sec. 9907. Administrative authority.

9901.

Definitions

For purposes of this subtitle: (a)

Administrator

The term Administrator means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. (b)

Carbon dioxide equivalent or CO2-e

The term carbon dioxide equivalent or CO2-e means the number of metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions with the same global warming potential as one metric ton of another greenhouse gas. (c)

Carbon-intensive product

The term carbon-intensive product means, as identified by the Secretary by rule— (1)any manufactured or agricultural product which the Secretary in consultation with the Administrator determines is emissions-intensive and trade-exposed, except that no covered fuel is a carbon-intensive product, and (2)until such time that the Secretary promulgates rules identifying carbon-intensive products, the following shall be considered carbon-intensive products: iron, steel, steel mill products (including pipe and tube), aluminum, cement, glass (including flat, container, and specialty glass and fiberglass), pulp, paper, chemicals, or industrial ceramics. (d)

Carbon leakage

The term carbon leakage means an increase of global greenhouse gas emissions which are substantially due to the relocation of greenhouse gas sources from the United States to jurisdictions which lack comparable controls upon greenhouse gas emissions. (e)

Cost of carbon or carbon costs

The term cost of carbon or carbon costs means a national or sub-national government policy which explicitly places a price on greenhouse gas pollution and shall be limited to either a tax on greenhouse gases or a system of cap-and-trade. The cost of carbon is expressed as the price per ton of CO2-e. (f)

Covered entity

The term covered entity means— (1)in the case of crude oil— (A)a refinery operating in the United States, and (B)any importer of any petroleum or petroleum product into the United States, (2)in the case of coal— (A)any coal mining operation in the United States, and (B)any importer of coal into the United States, (3)in the case of natural gas— (A)any entity entering pipeline quality natural gas into the natural gas transmission system, and (B)any importer of natural gas into the United States, (4)in the case of fluorinated gases any entity required to report the emission of a fluorinated gas under part 98 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, and (5)any entity or class of entities which, as determined by the Secretary, is transporting, selling, or otherwise using a covered fuel in a manner which emits a greenhouse gas to the atmosphere and which has not been covered by the carbon fee, the fluorinated greenhouse gas fee, or the carbon border fee adjustment. (g)

Covered fuel

The term covered fuel means crude oil, natural gas, coal, or any other product derived from crude oil, natural gas, or coal which shall be used so as to emit greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. (h)

Crude oil

The term crude oil means unrefined petroleum. (i)

Export

The term export means to transport a product from within the jurisdiction of the United States to persons outside the United States. (j)

Fluorinated greenhouse gas

The term fluorinated greenhouse gas means sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), nitrogen trifluoride (NF3), and any fluorocarbon except for controlled substances as defined in subpart A of part 82 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulation, and substances with vapor pressures of less than 1 mm of Hg absolute at 25 degrees. With these exceptions, fluorinated greenhouse gas includes but is not limited to any hydrofluorocarbon, any perfluorocarbon, any fully fluorinated linear, branched or cyclic alkane, ether, tertiary amine or aminoether, any perfluoropolyether, and any hydrofluoropolyether. (k)

Fossil fuel

The term fossil fuel means coal, coal products, petroleum, petroleum products, or natural gas. (l)

Full fuel cycle greenhouse gas emissions

The term full fuel cycle greenhouse gas emissions means the greenhouse gas content of a covered fuel plus that covered fuel’s upstream greenhouse gas emissions. (m)

Global warming potential

The term global warming potential means the ratio of the time-integrated radiative forcing from the instantaneous release of one kilogram of a trace substance relative to that of one kilogram of carbon dioxide. (n)

Greenhouse gas

The term greenhouse gas means carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbon (PFCs), and other gases as defined by rule of the Administrator. (o)

Greenhouse gas content

The term greenhouse gas content means the amount of greenhouse gases, expressed in metric tons of CO2-e, which would be emitted to the atmosphere by the use of a covered fuel and shall include, nonexclusively, emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4), and other greenhouse gases as identified by rule of the Administrator. (p)

Greenhouse gas effect

The term greenhouse gas effect means the adverse effects of greenhouse gases on health or welfare caused by the greenhouse gas’s heat-trapping potential or its effect on ocean acidification. (q)

Import

Irrespective of any other definition in law or treaty, the term import means to land on, bring into, or introduce into any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. (r)

Petroleum

The term petroleum means oil removed from the earth or the oil derived from tar sands or shale. (s)

Production greenhouse gas emissions

The term production greenhouse gas emissions means the quantity of greenhouse gases, expressed in metric tons of CO2-e, emitted to the atmosphere resulting from, nonexclusively, the production, manufacture, assembly, transportation, or financing of a product. (t)

Upstream greenhouse gas emissions

The term upstream greenhouse gas emissions means the quantity of greenhouse gases, expressed in metric tons of CO2-e, emitted to the atmosphere resulting from, nonexclusively, the extraction, processing, transportation, financing, or other preparation of a covered fuel for use.

9902.

Carbon fee

(a)

Carbon fee

There is hereby imposed a carbon fee on any covered entity’s emitting use, or sale or transfer for an emitting use, of any covered fuel. (b)

Amount of the carbon fee

The carbon fee imposed by this section is an amount equal to— (1)the greenhouse gas content of the covered fuel, multiplied by (2)the carbon fee rate. (c)

Carbon fee rate

For purposes of this section— (1)

In general

The carbon fee rate, with respect to any use, sale, or transfer during a calendar year, shall be— (A)in the case of calendar year 2019, $15, and (B)except as provided in paragraph (2), in the case of any calendar year thereafter, the carbon fee rate in effect under this subsection for the preceding calendar year, plus $10. (2)

Exceptions

(A)

Increased carbon fee rate after missed annual emissions reduction target

In the case of any year immediately following a year for which the Secretary determines under 9903(b) that the actual emissions of greenhouse gases from covered fuels exceeded the emissions reduction target for the previous year, paragraph (1)(B) shall be applied by substituting $15 for $10. (B)

Cessation of carbon fee rate increase after certain emission reductions achieved

In the case of any year immediately following a year for which the Secretary determines under 9903(b) that actual emissions of greenhouse gases from covered fuels is not more than 10 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions from covered fuels during the year 2015, paragraph (1)(B) shall be applied by substituting $0 for $10. (d)

Exemption and refund

The Secretary shall prescribe such rules as are necessary to ensure the fee imposed by this section is not imposed with respect to any nonemitting use, or any sale or transfer for a nonemitting use, including rules providing for the refund of any carbon fee paid under this section with respect to any such use, sale, or transfer. (e)

Agriculture exemptions

(1)

Fuel

If any covered fuel or its derivative is used on a farm for a farming purpose, the Secretary shall pay (without interest) to the ultimate purchaser of such covered fuel or its derivative, the total amount of carbon fees previously paid upon that covered fuel, as specified by rule of the Secretary. (2)

Farm, farming use, and farming purpose

The terms farm, farming use, and farming purpose shall have the respective meanings given such terms under section 6420(c). (3)

Other greenhouse gases emissions from agriculture

The carbon fee shall not be levied upon non-fossil fuel greenhouse gas emissions which occur on a farm.

9903.

Emissions reduction schedule

(a)

In general

An emissions reduction schedule for greenhouse gas emissions from covered fuels is hereby established, as follows: (1)

Reference year

The greenhouse gas emissions from covered fuels during the year 2015 shall be the reference amount of emissions and shall be determined from the Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990–2015 published by the Environmental Protection Agency in April of 2017. (2)

Emissions reduction target

The first emission reduction target shall be for the year 2022. The emission target for each year thereafter shall be the previous year’s target emissions minus a percentage of emissions during the reference year determined in accordance with the following table: YearEmissions Reduction Target2015Reference year2018 to 2021No emissions reduction target2022 to 20305 percent of 2015 emissions per year2030 to 20402.5 percent of 2015 emissions per year2040 to 20501.5 percent of 2015 emissions per year

(b)

Administrative determination

Not later than 60 days after the beginning of each calendar year beginning after the enactment of this section, the Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator, shall determine whether actual emissions of greenhouse gases from covered fuels exceeded the emissions reduction target for the preceding calendar year. The Secretary shall make such determination using the same greenhouse gas accounting method as was used to determine the greenhouse gas emissions in the Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990–2015 published by the Environmental Protection Agency in April of 2017.

9904.

Fee on fluorinated greenhouse gases

(a)

Fluorinated gas fee

A fee is hereby imposed upon any fluorinated greenhouse gas which is required to be reported under part 98 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations. (b)

Amount

The fee to be paid by the covered entity required to so report shall be an amount equal to— (1)the total amount, in metric tons of CO2-e, of emitted fluorinated greenhouse gases (or, in the case of a supplier, emissions that would result determined under the rules of such part), multiplied by (2)an amount equal to 10 percent of the carbon fee rate in effect under section 9902(d)(1) for the calendar year of such emission.

9905.

Decommissioning of carbon fee

(a)

In general

At such time that— (1)the Secretary determines under 9903(b) that actual emissions of greenhouse gases from covered fuels is not more than 10 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions from covered fuels during the year 2015, and (2)the monthly carbon dividend payable to an adult eligible individual has been less than $20 for 3 consecutive years,

the Secretary shall decommission in an orderly manner all bureaus and programs associated with administering the carbon fee, the carbon border fee adjustment, and the Carbon Dividend Trust Fund.

(b)

Inflation adjustment

In the case of any calendar year after 2018, the $20 amount under subsection (a)(2) shall be increased by an amount equal to— (1)such dollar amount, multiplied by (2)cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year, determined by substituting calendar year 2017 for calendar year 2016 in subparagraph (A)(ii) thereof.

9906.

Carbon Capture and Sequestration

(a)

In general

The Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator and the Secretary of Energy, shall prescribe regulations for making payments as provided in subsection (b) to qualified facilities which capture and sequester qualified carbon dioxide. (b)

Payment amounts

(1)

In general

The Secretary shall make payments to a qualified facility in the same manner as if such payment was a refund of an overpayment of the carbon fee imposed by section 9902, in cases in which such qualified facility— (A)uses any covered fuel— (i)with respect to which the carbon fee has been paid, and (ii)which results in the emission of qualified carbon dioxide, (B)captures such emitted qualified carbon dioxide, and (C) (i)sequesters such qualified carbon dioxide in a manner which is safe, permanent, and in compliance with any applicable local, State, and Federal laws, or (ii)utilizes such qualified carbon dioxide in a manner provided in paragraph (3)(C). (2)

Amount of refund

The payment determined under this section shall be an amount equal to the lesser of— (A) (i)the adjusted metric tons of qualified carbon dioxide captured and sequestered or utilized, multiplied by (ii)the carbon fee rate during the year in which the carbon fee was imposed by section 9902 upon the covered fuel to which such carbon dioxide relates, or (B)the amount of the carbon fee imposed by section 9902 with respect to such covered fuel. (3)

Definitions and special rules

For purposes of this section— (A)

Qualified carbon dioxide; qualified facility

(i)

Qualified carbon dioxide

The term qualified carbon dioxide has the same meaning given such term under section 45Q(b). (ii)

Qualified facility

The term qualified facility means any industrial facility at which carbon capture equipment is placed in service. (B)

Adjusted total metric tons

The adjusted total metric tons of qualified carbon dioxide captured and sequestered or utilized shall be the total tons of qualified carbon dioxide captured and sequestered or utilized, reduced by the amount of any carbon dioxide likely to escape and be emitted into the atmosphere due to imperfect storage technology or otherwise, as determined by the Secretary in consultation with the Administrator. (C)

Utilization

The Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator, shall establish regulations providing for the methods and processes by which qualified carbon dioxide may be utilized so as to remove that qualified dioxide safely and permanently from the atmosphere. Utilization may include the production of substances such as but not limited to plastics and chemicals. Such regulations shall minimize the escape or further emission of the qualified carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. (D)

Sequestration

Not later 540 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator, shall prescribe regulations identifying the conditions under which carbon dioxide may be safely and permanently sequestered. (4)

Coordination with credit for carbon dioxide sequestration

At such time that the Secretary prescribes regulations implementing this section, no payment under this section shall be allowed to a taxpayer to whom a credit has been allowed for any taxable year under section 45Q.

9907.

Administrative authority

(a)

In general

The Secretary in consultation with the Administrator shall prescribe such regulations, and other guidance, as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this subtitle and assess and collect the carbon fee imposed by section 9902 and the fluorinated greenhouse gas fee imposed by section 9904. (b)

Specifically

Such regulations and guidance shall include— (1)the identification of an effective point in the production, distribution, or use of a covered fuel or fluorinated greenhouse gas for collecting such carbon fee or fluorinated greenhouse gas fee, in such a manner so as to minimize administrative burden and maximize the extent to which full fuel cycle greenhouse gas emissions from covered fuels or fluorinated greenhouse gases have the carbon fee or fluorinated greenhouse gas fee levied upon them, (2)the identification of covered entities which shall be liable for the payment of the carbon fee or the fluorinated greenhouse gas fee, (3)requirements for the monthly payment of such fees, (4)as may be necessary or convenient, rules for distinguishing between different types of covered fuels, (5)as may be necessary or convenient, rules for distinguishing between a covered fuel’s greenhouse gas content and its upstream greenhouse gas emissions, (6)rules to ensure that no covered fuel or fluorinated greenhouse gas has the carbon fee, fluorinated greenhouse gas fee, or carbon border fee adjustment imposed upon it more than once, and (7)rules to ensure that the domestic implementation of the carbon fee and the fluorinated greenhouse gas fee coordinate with the implementation of the carbon border fee adjustment of chapter 102.

102

Carbon Border Fee Adjustment

Sec. 9908. Carbon border fee adjustment.

Sec. 9909. Administration of the carbon border fee adjustment.

Sec. 9910. Allocation of carbon border fee adjustment revenues.

9908.

Carbon border fee adjustment

(a)

In general

The fees imposed by, and refunds allowed under, this section shall be referred to as the carbon border fee adjustment. (b)

Purpose

The purpose of the carbon border fee adjustment is to protect animal, plant, and human life and health, to conserve exhaustible natural resources by preventing carbon leakage, and to facilitate the creation of international agreements. (c)

Imported covered fuels fee

In the case of any person that imports into the United States any covered fuel, there shall be imposed a fee equal to the excess (if any) of— (1)an amount equal to— (A)the amount of full fuel cycle greenhouse gas emissions of such fuel, multiplied by (B)the carbon fee rate in effect for the year in which such fuel is imported, over (2)the total foreign cost of carbon carried by such fuel. (d)

Imported carbon-intensive products fee

In the case of any person that imports into the United States any carbon-intensive products, there shall be imposed a fee equal to the excess (if any) of— (1)an amount equal to— (A)production greenhouse gas emissions of such product, multiplied by (B)the carbon fee rate in effect for the year in which the production greenhouse gas emissions of such product were emitted into the atmosphere, over (2)the total foreign cost of carbon carried by such product. (e)

Refund on exports from United States

(1)

Carbon-intensive products

Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, there shall be allowed a credit or refund (without interest) to exporters of carbon-intensive products manufactured or produced in the United States an amount equal to the excess (if any) of— (A)an amount equal to— (i)the production greenhouse gas emissions of the exported carbon-intensive product, multiplied by (ii)the carbon fee rate during the year in which the carbon fee or fluorinated greenhouse gas fee was paid upon the production greenhouse gas emissions of the exported carbon-intensive product, over (B)any total cost of carbon to be levied upon the carbon-intensive product by any jurisdiction to which the carbon-intensive product is to be imported.

Any such credit or refund shall be allowed in the same manner as if it were an overpayment of the fee imposed by section 9902 or 9904. The Secretary shall establish fair, timely, impartial, and as necessary confidential procedures by which any exporter of any product from the United States may petition the Secretary to include that exported product on the list of carbon-intensive products.

(2)

Covered fuels

Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, in the case of a covered fuel produced in the United States with respect to which the fee under section 9902 was paid, there shall be allowed as a credit or refund (without interest) to any exporter of such covered fuels an amount equal to the excess (if any) of— (A)an amount equal to— (i)the full fuel cycle greenhouse gas emissions of the covered fuel, multiplied by (ii)the carbon fee rate at the time the carbon fee was paid upon the full fuel cycle greenhouse gas emissions of the exported covered fuel, over (B)any total cost of carbon to be levied upon the covered fuel by a jurisdiction to which the carbon-intensive product is to be imported.

Any such credit or refund shall be allowed in the same manner as if it were an overpayment of tax imposed by section 9902.

(f)

Definitions

For purposes of this section— (1)

Foreign cost of carbon; foreign carbon costs

The term foreign cost of carbon or foreign carbon cost means the cost of any laws of a foreign jurisdiction which impose a system of cap-and-trade with respect to, or a tax or fee on, greenhouse gas. Such cost shall be determined and expressed as a price per ton of CO2-e. (2)

Total cost of carbon carried

The term total cost of carbon carried means an amount equal to— (A)the production greenhouse gas emissions of a carbon-intensive product or the full fuel cycle greenhouse gas emissions of a covered fuel, multiplied by (B)the cost of carbon with respect to such product or fuel, reduced by any amount refunded with respect to such product or fuel by a foreign jurisdiction.

The total cost of carbon carried shall be expressed as price in United States dollars.

(3)

Total foreign cost of carbon carried

The term total foreign cost of carbon carried means an amount equal to— (A)the production greenhouse gas emissions of a carbon-intensive product, or the full fuel cycle greenhouse gas emissions of a covered fuel, multiplied by (B)the foreign cost of carbon with respect to such product or fuel, reduced by the amount refunded with respect to such product or fuel by a foreign jurisdiction.

The total foreign cost of carbon carried shall be expressed as price in United States dollars.

9909.

Administration of the carbon border fee adjustment

(a)

Generally

The Secretary in consultation with the Administrator shall prescribe regulations and guidance which implement the carbon border fee adjustment under section 9908. (b)

Collaboration

Methodology

In determining the production greenhouse gas emissions of an imported carbon-intensive product, the upstream greenhouse gas emissions of an imported covered fuel, the full fuel cycle greenhouse gas emissions of an imported covered fuel, or the foreign cost of carbon, the Secretary shall use reliable methodologies, which— (1)as may be necessary or convenient— (A)distinguish between different types of covered fuels, (B)distinguish between a covered fuel’s greenhouse gas content and that covered fuel’s upstream greenhouse gas emissions, (C)distinguish between the different types of greenhouse gas emissions which compose a covered fuel’s upstream greenhouse gas emissions or greenhouse gas content, as well as the various processes which produced those emissions, and (D)distinguish between the different types of greenhouse gas emissions which compose a carbon-intensive product’s production greenhouse gas emissions, as well as the various processes which produced those emissions, (2)ensure that no covered fuel, covered fluorinated greenhouse gas, or carbon-intensive product has the carbon fee, the fluorinated greenhouse gas fee, or the border fee adjustment imposed upon it more than once, (3)ensure that the implementation of the border carbon adjustment aligns with the carbon fee and the fluorinated gas fee, (4)in the case of incomplete data, rely upon the best available methodologies for interpolating data gaps, and (5)are consistent with international treaties and agreements. (d)

Schedule

The Secretary shall determine— (1)not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this section, the production greenhouse gas emissions of imported carbon-intensive products, (2)not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the full fuel cycle greenhouse gas emissions and the upstream greenhouse gas emissions of every imported covered fuel, and (3)not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this section, the foreign cost of carbon in all jurisdictions. (e)

Procedure

The Secretary shall establish fair, timely, impartial, and as necessary confidential procedures by which the importer of any carbon-intensive product or any covered fuel may petition the Secretary to revise the Secretary’s determination of the production greenhouse gas emissions, full fuel cycle greenhouse gas emissions, or upstream greenhouse gas emissions of that importer’s imported covered fuel or imported carbon-intensive product, or the foreign cost of carbon carried by that importer’s imported carbon-intensive product. (f)

Shipments from the United States to the territories of the United States

Notwithstanding any other treaty, law, or policy, shipments of covered fuels or carbon-intensive products from the United States to Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, Samoa, Puerto Rico, and the Northern Mariana Islands shall be eligible for a refund of the carbon fee under section 9908(e). (g)

Imports to the territories of the United States

Notwithstanding any other treaty, law, or policy, imports of covered fuels or carbon-intensive products to Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, Samoa, Puerto Rico, and the Northern Mariana Islands shall not be subject to Section 9908(c) or 9908(d).”

9910.

Allocation of carbon border fee adjustment revenues

The revenues collected under this chapter may be used to supplement appropriations made available in fiscal years 2018 and thereafter— (1)to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, in such amounts as are necessary to administer the carbon border fee adjustment, then (2)to the Department of Treasury, in such amounts as are necessary to allow refunds under section 9908(e) to exporters of carbon-intensive products and exporters of covered fuels.

(b)

Coordination with carbon oxide sequestration credit

Section 45Q(f) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(8)

Coordination with carbon capture and sequestration payments

No credit shall be allowed under this section to a taxpayer which has received any payment under section 9906.

(c)

Treaties and international negotiations

(1)

Conformance with international treaties

In the case that the Appellate Body of the World Trade Organization, or any other authoritative international treaty interpreter, shall find any portion of the carbon border fee adjustment under chapter 102 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to violate any treaty to which the United States is a party, the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to alter any aspect of such carbon border fee adjustment so as to bring the carbon border fee adjustment into conformance with international law. (2)

International negotiations

The Congress finds the international mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions to be of national importance. Therefore, the Congress encourages the Secretary of State, or the Secretary’s designee, to commence and complete negotiations with other nations with the goal of forming treaties, environmental agreements, accords, partnerships or any other instrument that effectively reduces global greenhouse gas emissions to 10 percent of 2015 levels by 2050 and which respect the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. (3)

Suspension of the carbon border fee adjustment

Any part of the carbon border fee adjustment shall be suspended, in whole or in part— (A)by treaty or other international agreement which includes provisions for the suspension of the carbon border fee adjustment, in whole or in part, with any party signatory to the treaty or other international agreement, or (B)by a finding of the Secretary that a jurisdiction of importation has implemented policies which, in the case of high emitting countries, reduce greenhouse gas emissions at a rate at least equivalent to United States greenhouse gas emission reductions, or, in the case of low emitting countries, prevent the increase in greenhouse gas emissions.

Any such finding shall be reviewed at least every 3 years and amended or revoked as required.

Establishment of the Carbon Dividend Trust Fund

(a)

In general

Subchapter A of chapter 98 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following:

9512.

Carbon Dividend Trust Fund

(a)

Establishment and funding

There is hereby established in the Treasury of the United States a trust fund to be known as the Carbon Dividend Trust Fund, consisting of such amounts as may be appropriated to such trust fund as provided for in this section. (b)

Transfers to the Carbon Dividend Trust Fund

There is hereby appropriated to the Carbon Dividend Trust Fund amounts equal to the fees received into the Treasury less any amounts refunded or paid under section 9902(d) or 9906 of chapter 101 for each month. (c)

Expenditures

Amounts in the trust fund shall be available for the following purposes: (1)

Administrative expenses

So much of the expenses necessary to administer the Carbon Dividend Trust Fund for each year, as does not exceed— (A)in the case of the first 5 calendar years ending after the date of the enactment of this section, the administrative expenses for any year may not exceed 8 percent of amounts appropriated to the Carbon Dividend Trust Fund during such year, and (B)in the case of any calendar year thereafter, 2 percent of the 5-year rolling average of the amounts appropriated to the Carbon Dividend Trust Fund. (2)

Other administrative expenses

So much of the expenses as are necessary to administer chapter 101 for any year as does not to exceed 0.60 percent of the amounts appropriated to the Carbon Dividend Trust Fund for the previous year, and further limited as follows: (A)The Department of the Treasury. (B)The Social Security Administration. (C)The Environmental Protection Agency. (D)Department of State. (3)

Carbon dividend payments

(A)

In general

From the amounts in the Carbon Dividend Trust Fund made available under paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection for any year, the Secretary shall for each month beginning more than 270 days after the date of the enactment of the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2018, make carbon dividend payments to each eligible individual. (B)

Pro-rata share

A carbon dividend payment is one pro-rata share for each adult and half a pro-rata share for each child under 19 years old of amounts available for the month in the Carbon Dividend Trust Fund. (C)

Eligible individual

The term eligible individual means, with respect to any month, any natural living person who has a valid Social Security number or taxpayer identification number and is a citizen or lawful resident of the United States (other than any individual who is a citizen of any possession of the United States and whose bona fide residence is outside of the United States). The Secretary is authorized to verify an individual’s eligibility to receive a carbon dividend payment. (D)

Fee treatment of payments

Amounts paid under this subsection shall be includible in gross income. (E)

Federal programs and Federal assisted programs

The carbon dividend amount received by any individual shall not be taken into account as income and shall not be taken into account as resources for purposes of determining the eligibility of such individual or any other individual for benefits or assistance, or the amount or extent of benefits or assistance, under any Federal program or under any State or local program financed in whole or in part with Federal funds. (F)

Advance payment

The Secretary shall transfer to the Carbon Dividend Trust Fund such amounts as are necessary for the disbursement of an advanced carbon dividend to all eligible individuals as follows: (i)An advanced carbon dividend shall be the same as the anticipated first carbon dividend required to be distributed under subparagraph (A) and shall be distributed the month prior to the first collection of the carbon fee. (ii)Total amounts disbursed as advanced carbon dividends shall be deducted from the carbon dividends on a pro-rata basis over the first 3 years after the disbursement of the first carbon dividends. (d)

Administrative authority

The Secretary shall promulgate rules, guidance, and regulations useful and necessary to implement the Carbon Dividend Trust Fund.

(b)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections for subchapter A of chapter 98 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

Sec. 9512. Carbon Dividend Trust Fund.

Limited disclosure of information

Section 6103(l) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:

(23)

Limited disclosure of identity information relating to carbon dividend payments

(A)

Department of Treasury

Individual identity information shall, without written request, be open to inspection by or disclosure to officers and employees of the Department of the Treasury whose official duties require such inspection or disclosure for purposes of administering section 9512 (relating the Carbon Dividend Trust Fund). (B)

Commissioner of Social Security

The Commissioner of Social Security shall, on written request, disclose to officers and employees of the Department of the Treasury individual identity information which has been disclosed to the Social Security Administration as is necessary to administer section 9512. (C)

Restriction on disclosure

Information disclosed under this paragraph shall be disclosed only for purposes of, and to the extent necessary in, carrying out section 9512.

National Academy of Sciences review of carbon fee and emissions reduction schedule

(a)

In general

Not later than 10 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to prepare a report relating to the carbon fee imposed by section 9902 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the emissions reductions schedule established under section 9903 of such Code. (b)

Report requirements

Such report shall— (1)assess the efficiency and effectiveness of the carbon fee in achieving the emissions reduction targets set forth in section 9903 of such Code; (2)describe and make recommendations on whether the carbon fee rate and annual increases prescribed by section 9902(c) of such Code should be adjusted in order to optimize the efficiency and effectiveness of this Act in achieving the emissions reduction targets set forth in section 9903 of such Code; (3)describe the potential of the carbon fee to achieve future emissions targets set forth in section 9903(a) of such Code through the year 2050; (4)describe and evaluate the effectiveness of the carbon fee in reducing emissions from key sectors of the economy, including sectors of the economy that have decreased their carbon emissions, sectors of the economy that have increased their carbon emissions, and sectors of the economy in which carbon emissions have not changed; (5)make findings and recommendations to Federal departments and agencies and to Congress on actions that could be taken to reduce carbon emissions in the sectors of the economy in which carbon emissions have not decreased; (6)make findings and recommendations on adjusting regulations enacted under the Clean Air Act and other Federal laws that affect economic sectors achieving the emissions reduction targets set forth in section 9903 of such Code; and (7)provide an assessment of any other factors determined to be material to the program’s efficiency and effectiveness in achieving the goals set forth in this act. (c)

Report made publicly available

Not later than 10 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall submit to Congress the report required under subsection (a). Such report shall be made electronically available to the public and open to public comment for at least 60 days before the final submission to Congress.

Impact of carbon fee on biomass use and carbon sinks

(a)

Study of biomass

The Secretary of Energy shall enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study, make recommendations, and submit a report regarding the impact of the carbon fee on the use of biomass as an energy source and the resulting impacts on carbon sinks. (b)

Study requirements

The study conducted under subsection (a) by the National Academy of Sciences shall include analysis, documentation, and determinations on— (1)the carbon fee and its impact on the use of biomass as an energy source and greenhouse gas emissions from the use of biomass as an energy source; (2)the impacts of the use of biomass as an energy source on carbon sinks; and (3)the various types of biomass that are being used as an energy source. (c)

Recommendations

Based on the findings and conclusions of the study, the National Academy of Sciences shall make recommendations to Federal departments and agencies and to Congress. The recommendations shall include any actions that should be taken to mitigate impacts of the carbon fee on— (1)increasing greenhouse gas emissions from the use of biomass as an energy source; and (2)degradation of carbon sinks relating to the use of biomass as an energy source. (d)

Report

The National Academy of Sciences shall prepare a report that includes any findings and recommendations made pursuant to this section and, not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, make such report electronically available to the public.

Amendments to the Clean Air Act

(a)

In general

Title III of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7601) is amended by adding at the end the following:

330.

Suspension of regulation of fuels and emissions based on greenhouse gas effects

(a)

Fuels

Unless specifically authorized in section 202, 211, 213, or 231 or this section, if a carbon fee is imposed by section 9902 or 9908 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 with respect to a covered fuel, the Administrator shall not enforce any rule limiting the emission of greenhouse gases from the combustion of that fuel under this Act (or impose any requirement on any State to limit such emission) on the basis of the emission’s greenhouse gas effects. (b)

Emissions

Unless specifically authorized in section 202, 211, 213, or 231 or this section, if a fee is imposed by section 9904 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 with respect to a fluorinated greenhouse gas, the Administrator shall not enforce any rule limiting such gas under this Act (or impose any requirement on any State to limit such gas) on the basis of the greenhouse gas effects of such gas. (c)

Authorized regulation

Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), nothing in this section limits the Administrator’s authority pursuant to any other provision of this Act— (1)to limit the emission of any greenhouse gas because of any adverse impact on health or welfare other than its greenhouse gas effects; (2)in limiting emissions as described in paragraph (1), to consider the collateral benefits of limiting the emissions because of greenhouse gas effects; (3)to limit the emission of black carbon or any other pollutant that is not a greenhouse gas that the Administrator determines by rule has heat-trapping properties; or (4)to take any action with respect to any greenhouse gas other than limiting its emission, including— (A)monitoring, reporting, and record-keeping requirements; (B)conducting or supporting investigations; and (C)information collection. (d)

Exception for certain greenhouse gas emissions

Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), nothing in this section limits the Administrator’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from— (1)sources that— (A)are subject to subpart OOOO or OOOOa of part 60 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect or January 1, 2018; or (B)would be subject to such subpart OOOO or subpart OOOOa if such subpart applied regardless of the date on which construction, modification, or reconstruction of the source involved commenced; or (2)POTW Treatment Plants (as defined in section 403.3(r) of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations). (e)

Suspension expiration

(1)

Determination

The Administrator shall make a determination by March 30, 2030, and no less than once every five years thereafter, based on the determination required by section 9903(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as to whether cumulative greenhouse gas emissions from covered fuels subject to taxation under section 9902 of such Code during the period from calendar year 2022 through the calendar year preceding the determination exceed the cumulative emissions for that period that would have occurred if the emission reduction targets in section 9903(a)(2) of such Code were met. (2)

Consequence of cumulative emissions exceedance

If the Administrator determines under paragraph (1) that cumulative greenhouse gas emissions from covered fuels subject to tax under section 9902 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 exceed the cumulative emissions for the period covered by the determination that would have occurred if the emission reduction targets in section 9903(a)(2) of such Code were met, then the prohibitions in subsection (a) of this section, and in section 211(c)(5) of this Act, shall cease to apply. (f)

Assuring environmental integrity

(1)

Authority

If the Administrator determines pursuant to subsection (e)(1) of this section that the emission reduction targets in section 9903 (a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 are not met— (A)subsections (a) and (b) shall cease to apply; and (B)the Administrator shall— (i)issue such regulations as the Administrator deems necessary to bring greenhouse gas emissions from covered fuels subject to taxation under section 9902 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to levels that are at or below the emission reductions targets in section 9903(a)(2) of such Code; and (ii)require in such regulations that additional reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are achieved to fully compensate for any amount by which greenhouse gas emissions from covered fuels subject to taxation under section 9902 of such Code have exceeded the targets in section 9903(a)(2) of such Code. (2)

Deadline for finalizing regulations

The Administrator shall finalize any regulations required by paragraph (1) not later than two years after the Administrator makes the relevant determination pursuant to such paragraph. (3)

Achievement of additional reductions

Regulations issued pursuant to paragraph (1) shall ensure that any additional reductions required by paragraph (1)(B)(ii) are fully achieved by no later than eight years after the Administrator makes the determination pursuant to subsection (e)(1) described in paragraph (1). (g)

Definitions

In this section, the terms greenhouse gas and greenhouse gas effects have the meanings given to those terms in section 9901 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

(b)

New motor vehicles and new motor vehicle engines

Section 202(b) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7521(b)) is amended— (1)by redesignating the second paragraph (3) (as redesignated by section 230(4)(C) of Public Law 101–549 (104 Stat. 2529)) as paragraph (4); and (2)by adding at the end the following:

(5)Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) of section 330, the Administrator may— (A)limit the emission of any greenhouse gas (as defined in section 9901 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) on the basis of the emission’s greenhouse gas effects (as defined in section 9901 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) from any class or classes of new motor vehicles or new motor vehicle engines subject to regulation under subsection (a)(1); and (B)grant a waiver under section 209(b)(1) for standards for the control of greenhouse gas emissions.

(c)

Fuels

Section 211(c) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7545(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(5)The Administrator shall not, pursuant to this subsection, impose on any manufacturer or processor of fuel any requirement for the purpose of reducing the emission of any greenhouse gas (as defined in section 9901 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) produced by combustion of the fuel on the basis of the emission’s greenhouse gas effects (as defined in section 9901 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986).

(d)

Nonroad engines and vehicles emissions standards

Section 213 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7547) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(e)

Greenhouse gas emissions

Notwithstanding section 330(a), the Administrator may limit the emission of any greenhouse gas (as defined in section 9901 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) on the basis of the emission’s greenhouse gas effects (as defined in section 9901 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) from any nonroad engines and nonroad vehicles subject to regulation under this section.

(e)

Aircraft emission standards

Section 231 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7571) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(d)Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) of section 330, the Administrator may limit the emission of any greenhouse gas (as defined in section 9901 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) on the basis of the emission’s greenhouse gas effects (as defined in section 9901 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) from any class or classes of aircraft engines, so long as any such limitation is not more stringent than the standards adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization.

Effective date

The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act, except the carbon fee under section 9902 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall apply to uses, sales, or transfers more than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

10.

Principle of interpretation

In the case of ambiguity, the texts of this statute and its amending texts shall be interpreted so as to allow for the most effective abatement of greenhouse gas emissions.

11.

No preemption of State law

Nothing in this legislation shall preempt or supersede, or be interpreted to preempt or supersede, any State law or regulation.