D.C. support for clean energy needed now

We need to encourage the use of cleaner, cheaper, renewable fuels. I appreciate the TFP publishing two editorials in January about the urgent need to do something to abate climate change.

The first pointed out that reducing carbon emissions and protecting the environment should not be a partisan, political issue. We all have a vested interest in keeping our planet habitable. The second said that the hope for our future is to stop building any new fossil fuel infrastructure. It said we have the ability to do this; we just need the will.

I am writing to suggest an important step to take to make those things happen. The Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividends Act (HR 763) is a bipartisan proposal. It will reduce U.S. carbon emissions by 40 percent in the first 12 years. It puts a fee on fossil fuel use, which creates incentives for companies to move to cleaner fuels. The fees collected will go directly to the American people, as a carbon dividend each month in our pockets. It will create more than 2 million new jobs.

We are running out of time to make these changes. I urge Rep. Fleischmann to support this bill. I ask all of you to ask your congressional representatives to do the same.