Energy And Income For Tomorrow

Repeated studies have found at least 97% of all active climate scientists are convinced by the evidence that human-caused global warming from fossil fuel emissions is a serious threat. Two hundred major scientific organizations from around the world agree. Continued reliance on fossil fuels will lead to expensive and severe consequences for us, and catastrophe for the next generation. Nobody wants this for their kids. The good news is that change is coming. The question is whether New Hampshire will prepare for it or be led by outside influences to make preventable, costly mistakes.

Every country in the world committed to making significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels by signing the Paris Accord. Twelve states, representing 40% of US GDP, will honor their part of our commitment if the US withdraws. Economists say putting a price on carbon emissions is an efficient approach, and forty countries have already done so. Congress created the House Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus to consider the options. Now seventy members strong, it is also called the Noah’s Ark Caucus because members must join in pairs (one from each party) to keep membership balanced. New Hampshire’s own Representative Annie Kuster joined the Caucus last April with a Republican from Colorado to work on bipartisan, common sense solutions.

There are fair, beneficial, nonpartisan, viable solutions on the table. Carbon Fee and Dividend, from the nonpartisan, grassroots organization CitizensClimateLobby.org, is the gold standard. A similar proposal, Carbon Dividends from CLCouncil.org, has been endorsed by Henry Paulson, Ben Bernanke, James Baker, George Shultz, Exxon, Shell, BP, GM, J&J, P&G, and many others. These address the energy market failure directly with a steadily increasing, fully rebated fee on fossil fuel production based on carbon emissions, and use border carbon adjustments to protect US jobs and encourage global participation.

An impact study of Carbon Fee and Dividend found that in addition to reducing emissions 50% in twenty years by sending a strong market signal for efficiency and clean energy solutions, two-thirds of all households would break even or come out ahead, millions of jobs will be created (net), and the economy would grow. Compared with other regions of the country, growth in real personal income from such a policy will be highest in New England.

In other words, globally and nationally, great progress is being made to address the problem of human-caused climate change with effective solutions, and New Hampshire has a lot to gain from a national, fully rebated carbon fee with border adjustments.

What is New Hampshire up to? Some leaders, blinded by a short-sighted fantasy that world and national events will not overtake us and amnesia about the recent, similar case of $450 million wasted on the obsolete Merrimack power plant coal scrubber, are pushing to use more fracked gas and invest in new pipelines. Any new gas pipelines and infrastructure we allow to be built in our state are destined to become more 'lessons learned' when a price is put on carbon emissions nationally. Out-of-state interests are heavily promoting such projects, but they have their profits, not our best interests, in mind. There are better, local energy options that our leaders should focus on like increased efficiency, offshore wind, and solar. These will prove to be great investments when a price is put on carbon pollution by Congress.

The rest of the world accepts the science. The rest of the world is acting. The US has reaped many benefits by leading in science and technology through our history. We will do so for this current challenge as well.

We all want our state to thrive, with good jobs and a good reputation that attracts a young, educated workforce. We all want low energy prices. We can get those by avoiding poor choices now by paying attention to world events. The global commitment to switch to clean energy solutions presents a limited time opportunity, right now, for a few states and countries to become the main producers of energy solutions for the rest of this century. Missing this opportunity is missing the growth and prosperity that rewards those who see the future and embrace it.

What can you do? Ask your state representatives to vote yes on HB 1230, to bring stakeholders together and study the economic impacts on New Hampshire of a federal carbon price, to prepare for change. Tell Congress you support climate action - cclusa.org/write - every month. Together we can help ensure a bright future for New Hampshire.

John Gage
Citizens Climate Lobby Volunteer