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Washington State Voters To Consider Country's First Carbon Tax

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In this Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016 photo, the Space Needle is seen in view of still standing but now defunct stacks at the Nucor Steel plant in Seattle. The plant is among those likely to be affected if Washington state becomes the first in the nation to pass a tax on carbon pollution from fossil fuels such as coal, gasoline and natural gas. (Elaine Thompson/AP)
In this Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016 photo, the Space Needle is seen in view of still standing but now defunct stacks at the Nucor Steel plant in Seattle. The plant is among those likely to be affected if Washington state becomes the first in the nation to pass a tax on carbon pollution from fossil fuels such as coal, gasoline and natural gas. (Elaine Thompson/AP)

On election day, voters in Washington state will decide whether to tax carbon emissions. If Initiative 732 passes, the state would charge for every ton of CO2 emitted from generating electricity or using fossil fuels. It would be the first such tax in the country.

Ashley Ahearn from Here & Now contributor KUOW and EarthFix in Seattle reports.

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Ashley Ahearn, environment reporter at KUOW and EarthFix. She tweets @aahearn.

This segment aired on October 25, 2016.

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