Methodology Paying for Pollution recommendations were carefully developed through consultation with a variety of experts and advocates from diverse perspectives. The recommendations represent compromises between taxpayer, budget watchdog, consumer, and environmental groups. Many of these programs involve highly complex issues that require structural reform or are connected to larger debates and controversies. In general, the campaign has sought to focus on areas of agreement, which are sometimes narrow.
How were the savings estimated?
In general, the savings figures in Paying for Pollution represent the total cost to federal taxpayers over the life of the project. Where such information is not available, the savings figure provided is an estimate of the five-year savings to taxpayers. These numbers are generally intended to be illustrative rather than exact because of the number of variables involved. The savings given are conservative estimates. Saving figures for the various tax subsidies were estimated by the Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation or the White House Office of Management and Budget.
A "$n/a" is used for recommendations for which no reliable savings estimate is available or for recommendations that do not necessarily save large amounts of money for the federal government. Also, projects with indirect or complex financing mechanism, such as foreign aid projects, were not given a savings estimate.
Introduction