Microsoft, other business leaders head to Capitol Hill in support of carbon tax

Representatives for business giants including Microsoft, Capital One and Johnson & Johnson, are heading to Capitol Hill this week to push for a carbon tax, Roll Call reported Monday.

Officials from more than 75 companies will meet with Congress Wednesday to call for a “meaningful” national price on carbon emissions, a sustainable investment group behind the effort told Roll Call.

{mosads}Ceres’ vice president of government relations told the outlet in an interview that a significant portion of the private sector supports a national carbon price of some kind.

“There’s an overwhelming consensus about carbon pricing needing to be part of the solution,” Anne Kelly said.

The message from the corporate suite to congressional offices is clear, she said: “We need your help in the form of a price on carbon and, basically, we’ve got your back.”

Pricing carbon as a way to tackle climate change has grown in popularity and enjoyed some bipartisan support, but still has staunch opposition.

“A carbon tax is not the solution to address our environmental challenges,” Rep. Kevin Brady (Texas), the top Republican on the Ways and Means Committee, said at a panel hearing last week.