Pipeline Obstruction Is the Activists' New 'Carbon Tax'

Carbon taxes seek to discourage fossil fuel use by taxing companies for greenhouse gas emissions, inevitably passing those additional costs on to consumers, hitting the poor and working class the hardest. On an international level, the United Nations’ climate panel has called for a $135 tax per ton of greenhouse gases produced, with a goal of increasing the fee to $5,500 per ton by 2030. Imposing additional taxes at that level would make the French tax increases look like rounding errors.

The global elites have set their sights on ordinary citizens and will focus its arbitrary punishment on the wallets of the working class worldwide. The punitive taxes will take a much larger toll on those they plan to save than themselves of course.

Currently only 11 countries have existing carbon taxes, which have drastically increased fuel prices. Amounting to deep blows against the carbon tax effort on the global stage, Paris’ violent “Yellow Vest” riots successfully reversed a proposed 6.5-cent fuel tax, while American voters overwhelmingly rejected a proposed carbon tax in the state of Washington.

According to Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), who stated, “If it can't pass in Washington state right now, I'm not sure that says that there's much of a pathway at this moment nationally,” chances of such a measure passing nationally are dim at best.

Clearly, taxes and fees on the use of oil and gas are deeply unfavorable to ordinary Americans, but climate activists have proven that they’ll go to any means to achieve their “green,” yet economically bleak, future. They will push an agenda of energy poverty that will necessarily result in actual poverty for millions if left to run its course.

On December 7, Dominion Energy suspended construction on its planned 600-mile long Atlantic Coast Pipeline, a landmark project that would span parts of West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina, over environmental concerns by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service.

This latest assault against the project echoes a November decision by the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals to suspend a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit for pipeline crossings in the state of West Virginia, after months of protests from environmental activists.

While, in these cases, activists have cited concerns over endangered species and water quality, their real objectives are apparent — to kill the Atlantic Coast Pipeline and projects like it, hamper construction initiatives running counter to their ideology, and finally make the use of fossil fuels untenable and financially devastating.

Even the activists assaulting the Atlantic Coast Pipeline and other projects like the Keystone XL pipeline blatantly confirm their objectives to anyone who asks.

One such activist, Kelly Martin, the “Beyond Dirty Fuels” Campaign Director for Sierra Club, said as much in her opposition to the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, stating, “There is no right way to build dirty, dangerous fossil fuel projects like this and we will continue to fight this pipeline until it’s stopped once and for all.”

In the case of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline alone, the project will generate $377 million per year in savings, over $25 million per year in tax revenue for local communities, and approximately 20,000 jobs that will empower blue collar workers.

None of that matters.

Global economic dependence on fossil fuels is a reality, and radical activists like Martin utilizing the courts to shut down critical infrastructure projects like the Atlantic Coast Pipeline is not only dangerous, it is a tired rehash of the ideas widely rejected by the American public. It is also the left's most reliable way to force its radical social agenda on everyone. If you cannot get legislation the way you want it — or public opinion where you need it, then file a lawsuit in a sympathetic court and let them do the rest.

Ultimately, the obstruction of these projects equates to a “carbon tax” on the workers, families, and consumers that would benefit, and the courts should refrain from implementing a radical, anti-fossil fuel agenda in a way that is environmentally responsible. The courts should refrain but so far have not.

Steve Gruber is a conservative talk show host with 25 affiliates in Michigan. "The Steve Gruber Show" launched in 2012 with just four affiliates and has grown into the most powerful name in talk radio across Michigan. Steve has been named “Best Morning Personality” by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters five years in a row. His conservative, common-sense philosophy was developed during his time growing up in rural Michigan. Steve’s early career found him in several newsrooms including WILX, Lansing where he honed his investigative journalism and interviewing skills. He became the main news anchor of the station and before long was offered a job with NBC in Columbus, Ohio. While working for NBC, he covered the incredible launch of John Glenn, age 77, into space at Cape Canaveral, White Supremacists in Ohio, and the deadly game of selling prescription medication online. Steve was nominated for an Emmy in 2000. To read more of this reports — Click Here Now.