Could Vermont spark a carbon tax trend? State legislators say a recent flurry of carbon tax proposals are more “conversation starters” than a drive to change policy, but policy shifts have to start somewhere. This year’s legislative session included a motion to launch a study to assess the viability of a statewide cap-and-trade program; another fee proposal to tax carbon in order to fund the state’s education system; a proposal to eliminate the state sales tax and replace it with a carbon fee on corporations; and a carbon tax that would pay a dividend to many of Vermont’s businesses and