Dear Editor:

Who supports a price on carbon?

Economists, scientists, businesses, members of Congress, and state and local officials all support a price on carbon as one of the most effective ways to reduce emissions. And Americans across the country support carbon pricing as a way to stabilize the climate and protect our future.

The dangers of climate change include extreme heat, wildfires, coastal flooding, and drought, according to the Los Angeles County Climate Vulnerability Assessment. The report found that about 56% of county residents, some 5.7 million people, will be “highly exposed” and vulnerable to severe weather impacts such as these between now and 2050.

For this reason, I was delighted to see in last week’s Patriot that Mayor Claudia Frometa and her staff are working on a proposal to reduce our city’s carbon footprint by installing solar panels on all city buildings. This will result in energy cost savings of $10 million over the next 25 years as well as a reduction of carbon dioxide and methane pollution caused by burning fossil fuels to generate electricity. The reduction in greenhouse gases will be equivalent to five million less vehicle miles driven annually or the equivalent of the carbon sequestered by 2,246 acres of trees in one year.

I’d like to give a big thanks to our mayor and her staff for their vision to preserve our future.

Anita Rivero
Downey

Dear Editor:

In her recent Mayor’s Corner, Downey Mayor Claudia M. Frometa announced positive news about clean energy: that one of her objectives is to install solar panels on all city buildings, saving the city $10 million over the next 25 years.

That is great news, and it will help tackle climate change that is affecting Planet Earth.

There are three main gases that cause climate change: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, and water vapor. An excess of carbon dioxide and methane gases from burning fossil fuels is causing our planet to overheat.

Every time one turns on a car or truck fueled by gasoline, one produces CO2; and if the electricity comes from power plants run by gas, oil or coal, every time one turns on the lights, one produces CO2.

So, it is good to hear that, led by Mayor Frometa, our city will be working to reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses released into the atmosphere by installing solar panels on all city buildings.

It just makes sense to save the planet and save taxpayers’ money at the same time.

It also makes sense for Congress to put a fee on carbon pollution, pay the money back equally to American families via “carbon cash back” dividends, and protect American companies and their workers by charging the same fee on imported goods. H.R. 2307, a bill in the House of Representatives, does just that, and professional economic studies project that it will reduce America’s carbon pollution 50% by 2030 while creating jobs, improving health outcomes, and putting money in American families’ pockets. That is why I support this bill as a member of Citizens’ Climate Lobby.

As strongly as I support this proposed legislation, I also believe that climate policy should be the result of the give and take of the democratic process, and I know there are other carbon pricing bills in Congress worthy of consideration.

That’s why, beginning in July, Citizens’ Climate Lobby volunteers nationwide made almost 170,000 contacts, phoning and emailing the House of Representatives, Senate, and White House asking our elected representatives to put a price on carbon during the current legislative session.

In other words, we are asking our national elected officials to make fighting climate change a priority, just as our Mayor, Claudia M. Frometa, is doing here at home.

I commend and thank our mayor!

Guido Rivero
Downey