NY Times admission: "Public and political consensus around the threat of climate change is not in sight"

Obama Admin Launches Campaign to Help States, Utilities Deploy Smart Grid Projects - NYTimes.com

Public and political consensus around the threat of climate change is not in sight, foreclosing attempts to impose a price on carbon emissions -- a policy that could make smart grid energy savings technologies more important to consumers.
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The Pacific Northwest Smart Grid Demonstration, with a budget of $178 million split evenly between Recovery Act grants and local contributions by 11 utilities and other partners, funds a variety of projects, including charging plug-in electric vehicles, improving wind forecasting and creating a novel market "signal" meant to reflect a higher value for low-carbon electricity.

What if the public doesn't want to pay more for electricity generation that allegedly prevents bad weather?