To the Journal editor:

A recent article in The Mining Journal revealed that one of the largest suppliers of electricity in Michigan — Consumers Energy — is now committed to ending their use of coal by 2040 in favor of cleaner natural gas and renewable sources like wind and solar.

The company’s CEO said this: “We believe that climate change is real and we can do our part by reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, and we also believe it doesn’t have to cost more to do it. We believe we’re going to be on the right side of history on this issue.”

This is good news for the state of Michigan because it will lead to cleaner air and an increase in energy sector employment. It’s also a further indication that the industrial leaders of America are fully committed to slowing the rate of climate change. And while this is welcome news, 2040 is a long way off.

Climate change is happening now: 16 of the warmest years on record in terms of global average temperature since 1880 have occurred since 1998, including 2016, the warmest year on record. The vast majority of climate scientists are telling us that there is a direct correlation between extreme weather and the warming of the oceans and our atmosphere.

If you want to take action on this issue, you might consider joining the non-partisan Citizens Climate Lobby and their campaign to promote a carbon-fee-and-dividend plan. This plan — which has bi-partisan support from many of our most esteemed economists, scientists and political leaders–would go a long way toward bringing about a cleaner, safer, healthier environment for future generations.

Tim Clancy, Marquette