A widespread assumption about levying taxes for pollution is that it would drive a dagger into the heart of the national economy. But as the federal government rolls out an ambitious plan for cutting the country's carbon emissions, environmental groups have countered that � if done correctly � cutting carbon emissions might boost some areas of the economy.

One such idea is the "fee and dividend" system in which carbon dioxide output is taxed at $10 per metric ton and 100 percent of the collections from the tax are returned to households based on how many people live in them.

The idea is outlined in a white paper released today by the Citizens' Climate Lobby that was prepared by Regional Economic Models Inc. of Washington, D.C., and Synapse Energy Economics Inc. of Cambridge, Mass.

The group proposes that the tax be enacted in 2016 and be increased $10 per metric ton each subsequent year. George Laur, the leader of the group's Columbia/Jefferson City chapter, said that giving the same rebate to all households helps make the idea "sellable" and could preclude arguments over redistribution of wealth.

"We're trying to keep this as simple as we can," Laur said. While the report uses a model in which the tax begins at $10 per metric ton, households would get a credit per adult living in the household and a half-credit per child.

Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency unveiled a new regulation, intended to reduce pollution from coal-fired power plants, that allows states to craft their own programs to reduce carbon dioxide emissions with the goal of cutting emissions nationwide by 30 percent of 2005 levels by 2030.

Citizens' Climate Lobby argues the carbon tax could head off the EPA plans and cut the current emissions level by 33 percent in 10 years and by 52 percent by 2035.

Laur said the idea is similar to a carbon tax program British Columbia has used since 2008, in which all money generated by the tax is returned to British Columbians in the form of tax breaks.

The paper provides a simple example of how the tax would be applied to help ordinary consumers understand how the tax would impact their own finances: A gallon of gas weighs 6.3 pounds and burning that gallon of gasoline produces 19.6 pounds of carbon dioxide, which is about 0.009 metric tons. At a $10 per metric ton, that would mean an extra nine cents per gallon of gasoline.

The paper says the carbon tax may add 2.2 million jobs over 10 years and employment gains will occur in all U.S. regions except one: The region that includes Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas, a portion of the country where the energy production sector has a heavy presence.

Scott Nystrom, senior economic associate with Regional Economic Models Inc., said in a conference call today that consumer spending-oriented industries like health care will benefit from the tax while industries like mining, manufacturing and oil and gas extraction will be negatively impacted.

"But they are the big polluters, so this is expected and, in some cases, desired," Nystrom said.

On Friday, Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., filed an amendment to the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act to stop taxes or fees on carbon emissions.

"A carbon tax would lead to significant job losses and force American households to pay more at the pump, more to heat and cool their homes, and more for almost every American-made product they buy," Blunt said in a prepared statement.

Coal generates about 80 percent of Missouri's electricity.