Pollution solution?
Here’s a workable climate solution: Stop allowing fossil fuel producers to pollute for free by charging a true cost fee on their raw products and return those funds to all Americans. When refined fossil fuels finally reach the state level, there would be no need to tax people on the use of multiple fuel products.
On Nov. 28, Democrats and Republicans introduced a bipartisan climate change bill in the House of Representatives, Bill 7173, The Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, which is revenue-neutral and creates a Carbon Dividend Trust Fund to return the fees collected from raw fossil fuels at the well, mine and at ports of entry from imported fuels to all American households.
Monthly dividend checks would include shares for two adults per household and half shares for two children younger than 18 years old, and the check amounts would be sufficient to offset the rising cost of fuels, with probably enough left over for the family to invest in clean technology.
The annually rising fee would be based on the tonnage of carbon dioxide emitted when a fuel is used, pushing fossil fuel prices very high in order to motivate energy companies to innovate on less-polluting technology and even switch to clean energy technology.
Since this is a market-driven solution that encourages competition, alternative energy projects and new technology projects will become very attractive to investors, enabling a quick reduction of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Economic research on this plan shows that it would create 2.1 million jobs, improve people’s health, lower health care costs and reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide by 40 percent in 12 years.
Asking your congressional representatives to support this bill to improve its chance of passing is something each of us can do to make a difference and to reverse global climate change for future generations.
Merle Hayward
Hilo
Lack of jobs
In Monday’s Tribune-Herald, the article about population states the government doesn’t know why people are leaving the Big Island.
The answer is simple: jobs.
If someone on this island between the ages of 18 and 34 is looking for work, there are very few worthwhile jobs available. We do not make anything or do anything, with the exception of tourism and a few construction jobs.
There is no industry here because the people do not want any. They object and protest. Attempting to open a business of that type is cumbersome and expensive, especially in this county.
Bob Dukat
Pahoa