Katherine Conrotto: Carbon fee would do more to reduce harmful emissions

Re “Our View: Gearing up to fight climate change” (Dec. 21): I applaud the editorial appearing in The Bee; hybrid and low- to zero-emission vehicles are definitely a viable alternative to our gas guzzlers, and customer rebates should be generous.

Utilities providers such as Modesto Irrigation District should be fined by the state for increasing the rates of responsible customers who have installed solar panels. California’s cap-and-trade program is effective in limiting carbon emissions statewide.

Another solution proposed by Citizens Climate Lobby is a nationwide, revenue-neutral carbon fee and dividend program, whereby a fee of $15 a ton is implemented at the point of extraction, rising $10 per ton per year, to be collected and returned to two thirds of American households as an annual rebate. A two-year economic study shows substantial decreases in emissions while producing more jobs nationwide.

Please call Rep. Jeff Denham today and ask him to sign the Gibson Resolution (HR 424) along with 11 other Republicans, advocating support of immediate action being taken on climate change and its destructive effects.

This story was originally published December 28, 2015 at 1:18 PM with the headline "Katherine Conrotto: Carbon fee would do more to reduce harmful emissions."