Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

Major climate policy is doable

Regarding the Oct. 19 Associated Press article “Biden’s climate plan at risk, Democrats race to strike a deal”: The loss of the Clean Energy Performance Plan (CEPP) is not the end of policy measures aimed at reaching our goal of 50% CO2 reduction by 2030.

CEPP was just one of many climate policies being discussed in Washington. In fact, one of the strongest policy measures on Capitol Hill right now is a carbon tax with a dividend back to every American household.

Economists support a carbon tax as being one of the most effective ways to transition off fossil fuel. Add a dividend back to the American people and it is the perfect market-based approach that would add force behind a transition that is already happening. By giving the market more incentive to drive innovation in green tech and ensuring that small businesses, low and middle-income families will not bear the financial burden of the transition, not only will we meet our climate goals but we will build a resilient domestic economy able to meet the challenges of remaining competitive in a global landscape increasingly dominated by China.

Contact Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, who sits on the Senate Finance Committee, to support a carbon tax with dividend in the budget reconciliation package. Congress must include strong, effective climate legislation in that package. This solution has bipartisan support and is as strong as they come.