Fee on carbon can help climate and citizens

WHAT EXCITING news that New Mexico State University and El Paso Electric have installed 10,000 solar panels for use on the NMSU campus. Every step toward renewable energy is a step toward a cleaner future. One of the most promising actions to reduce carbon emissions and to decrease climate change effects is to place a price on carbon — a fee imposed on the production of fossil fuels at the source.

The majority of U.S. economists — including several from NMSU — agree that a fee on carbon will pressure the market to turn toward fossil-free energy and carbon sequestration innovations in a relatively rapid time frame (see https:// www.econstatement.org/). Most developed economies in the world have taken steps in this direction in order to divert the drastic predictions of climate change. If monies collected from an imposed carbon price are returned to the citizens in the form of a monthly dividend, the effects of higher fuel and energy costs will be affordable as the economy shifts to a greener alternative.

The U.S. Senate is currently discussing a carbon price in its budget discussions. I am hopeful that this one approach can make a measurable difference across all economic sectors, and I urge readers to learn more and contact their members of Congress now to press for action. Here’s a great resource: citizensclimatelobby.org.

Projects such as the forward-thinking NMSU/El Paso collaboration will lead the way and demonstrate how New Mexico can become a leader in the new clean-energy economy, while providing well-paying jobs for New Mexicans. It’s an exciting step as the devastating and costly impacts of climate change inevitably force us to move away from a fossil fuel-driven economy. MARTHA MARTINEZ DEL RIO

Silver City