To the Journal editor

U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow deserves praise for joining the bi-partisan climate solutions caucus. This group of senators formed recently to tackle the greatest crisis in human history.

The members of this and the companion caucus in the House were recently invited to a dinner held by big oil and executives across the corporate world in an effort to drum up support for a carbon fee and dividend policy.

The Climate Leadership Council and its PAC, Americans for Carbon Dividends, is the climate lobby shop of industry. The Citizens’ Climate Lobby, on the other hand, is a grassroots, volunteer based organization with hundreds of local chapters across the country. It has succeeded in urging congress to introduce a carbon fee and dividend proposal.

So why doesn’t CLC advocate for the same policy as Citizens’ Climate Lobby? First, the CLC proposal, which is expected to be introduce in both chambers this year, lets oil companies off the hook. It specifically eliminates all liability and bars lawsuits for climate damages.

The grassroots bill, HR 763, which can found at EnergyInnovationAct.org, doesn’t try to tie the hands of the judicial branch, which is the appropriate place for questions of liability.

Secondly, and most importantly for everyone else, is the difference in the carbon fee. The CLC proposal boasts of reductions of 50% by 2035, but a quick glance of the carbon pricing calculator at rff.org/cpc shows the reality. Compare the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act with a “custom price”: $40 per ton, 5% annual increase, and per household dividend (the CLC plan). It would cut emissions by 50% years later than HR 763, and is not likely to ever reach the 90% drop, like HR 763 would by 2050.

To cut carbon as fast as scientist and economist say is the most effective and economical, we need a single bill with a steadily rising price on pollution, not one that prices coal out and puts natural gas in. Call Senator Stabenow and remind her of this at 202-224-4822. Sign up for monthly text or email reminders, including a script, to call your Representative at cclcalls.org Please consider Joining your local chapter to help ensure we get the climate policy we deserve cclusa.org. Sincerely,

JOHN O’BRYAN

Skandia