Monday, Jan. 16, 2023 | 2 a.m.
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Two recent stories in the Sun have reinforced my belief that America excels at innovation and renew my hope that innovation is going to help us deal effectively with climate change.
When I read that plastic incorporated into asphalt potentially could add years to a road’s life, and small, modular nuclear reactors can help fill the energy gap between elimination of fossil fuels and total reliance on sustainable energy, I’m amazed at the possibilities for solutions to the climate crisis — if only we can get Congress to act.
Citizens’ Climate Lobby, a nonpartisan, nonprofit grassroots organization focused on national policies to combat climate change, advocates for an annually escalating price on carbon emissions at their source, with the return of those fees as rebates to American citizens. Energy companies will want to avoid paying the fees, so they will seek innovative solutions to energy production.
We are already seeing some of these ideas take shape, such as the small modular nuclear reactors. Innovation can come from anyone with novel ideas, with energy companies assisting with funding for development. It’s exciting to think what technologies might be on the horizon, with the overarching goal of reducing carbon emissions and benefiting the planet.
Let Congress know that you are serious about combating climate change and that you want national policies above and beyond those in the Inflation Recovery Act. Let them know you are paying attention and want them to take action. Only pressure from all of us will produce results.
