We need to let our representatives know that we support the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act. This act represents the best and most equitable shot we have at addressing climate change on a Federal level.
Two versions of the same legislation have been introduced into the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate – the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act. This simple and bipartisan act, aimed at reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, is a cornerstone solution in our fight against runaway global warming.
This act would establish a charge of $15 for each ton of carbon emitted into the air and would increase that fee by $10 every year afterward, in an effort to fight climate change. Other than administrative costs, all of the money would be equally divided and go back to taxpayers – similar to how our PFD works. Rural Alaskans, poor and working families, and those who are conservative in their fossil fuel consumption would receive a dividend greater than the fuel cost increases. This method is a give-and-take approach where all citizens are compensated equally and are allowed free choice in their energy consumption.
Combating global warming can feel overwhelming and outside the realm of possibility. Here in Alaska we are already living through and witnessing the unraveling of our climate system - diminishing sea ice, late freeze-up, early break-up, forest epidemics, warming salmon streams, the blob, acidifying oceans, expensive infrastructural damage due to rapidly melting permafrost, and the list goes on and on.
We all know and understand that in order to prevent these problems from becoming much, much worse, we must radically reduce our greenhouse gas output. So far, however, reductions are not happening. In 2018, our global carbon dioxide emissions actually rose by 2.7%, setting a new all-time record high.
In order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, we must make emitting them less and less desirable. But, we must also ensure that the industries and individuals with the larger carbon footprint don’t shrug off that burden on to the more economically vulnerable.
For the last 100 years we have been using Earth’s atmosphere as a dump - radically altering its chemical composition - and it has been free of charge to do so. When polluting is free, we end up with too much pollution. It is time to put a price on carbon.
We need you to let our Alaskan representatives know that you support this legislation.
Please add your name to our petition or, better yet, write or call them. Scroll to the bottom of the page for our representative's contact information.
522 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202)-224-6665
Fax: (202)-224-5301
510 L Street
Suite 600
Anchorage, AK 99501
Phone: (907) 271-3735
Fax: (877) 857-0322
800 Glacier Ave
Suite 101
Juneau, AK 99801
Phone: (907) 586-7277
Fax: (877) 857-0322
702 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-3004
Fax: (202) 224-6501
510 L Street
Suite 750
Anchorage, AK 99501
Phone: (907) 271-5915
Fax: (907) 258-9305
800 Glacier Ave
Suite 101
Juneau, AK 99801
Phone: (907) 586-7277
Fax: (907) 586-7201
WASHINGTON, DC OFFICE
2314 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
T (202) 225-5765 F (202) 225-0425
ANCHORAGE DISTRICT OFFICE
471 W. 36th Avenue, Suite 201
Anchorage, AK 99503
T (907) 271-5978 F (907) 271-5950
FAIRBANKS FIELD OFFICE
100 Cushman St. Suite 307
Key Bank Building
Fairbanks, AK 99701
T (907) 456-0210 F (907) 456-0279