At the annual town meeting in June, the citizens of Arrowsic passed a climate action resolution in support of a national policy to put a price on carbon pollution. According to Phine Ewing, chairperson of the conservation committee, we are “a small town, but I am glad we had the chance to speak out in favor of a sensible plan to curb carbon emissions”. The resolution was written “in favor of a carbon fee and dividend proposal” and “passed with overwhelming support at town meeting.”
The plan, to enact a fee on carbon-based fuels so as to account for their true social and environmental costs, was written with the explicit intention of gathering bipartisan support by offering something for all parties. To offset the expected rise in fuel prices, every American would receive a “carbon dividend” which is projected to result in most lower– and middle-income Americans coming out ahead or breaking even. Many conservative principles are embodied in the plan in that there would be no new federal regulations, no growth in the size of the Federal government, the free market would be the engine of change, and everyday citizens would ultimately help solve the problem of a warming world by simply acting in their own best financial interest. And it is environmentally progressive in that it promises to expedite the reduction of carbon emissions in the time frame called for by science, a goal that all sides can embrace.
Arrowsic has joined six other municipalities, along with many organizations, and individuals across the state that have already come out in support of implementing national “carbon fee and dividend” policy. For anyone looking to take a simple and effective action on behalf of stabilizing our climate, voicing your support to our representatives in favor of this sensible national policy could be well worth the effort. The bill now in the US House, H.R. 763, The Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, was introduced in February and has been endorsed by Rep. Chellie Pingree and 51 other US representatives. Details are available on the website https://energyinnovationact.org/

Paul Perkins, 

Bath 

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