Abstract |
Emissions trading, under the Clean Air Act, includes bubbles, netting, emission offsets, emission reduction banking, and is the subject of an EPA proposed Policy Statement (47 Fed. Reg. 15076, Apr. 7, 1982). These alternatives involve the creation of surplus reductions at certain stacks or vents and use of these reductions to meet requirements applicable to other emission sources. Emissions trades can provide more flexibility, and may therefore be used to reduce control costs, encourage faster compliance and free scarce capital for industrial revitalization. This paper discusses tax considerations regarding the currency of emissions trading, the Emission Reduction Credit, or ERC. Major issues include: (1) tax benefits available to a firm creating an ERC, (2) financing issues, (3) tax attributes of an ERC, and (4) ERC sales and option transactions. Like most business and financial activity, ERC transactions turn substantially on tax issues. The study includes issues raised by the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981. |