I am writing on behalf of Youth Rise Together in support of H.2810, an act to promote green infrastructure and reduce carbon emissions. It is critical that we pass bold legislation such as H.2810 in the next two years.
Last year’s report from the intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC) showed that global temperatures are rising at unprecedented rates. On Oct. 8, 2018 the United Nation’s climate science body said “We have just 12 years to make massive and unprecedented changes to global energy infrastructure… .”. One of the best ways to do this is with a carbon fee system that imposes a tax on non-renewable energy.
A common concern with carbon pricing is that if not implemented correctly, it can negatively affect low income communities. However, H. 2810 meets this concern by returning 70 percent of the money collected by the fee to lower and middle income households in the form of rebates and incentives. This would create a net positive increase in wealth for lower and middle income households. The other 30 percent of the money collected would create a green infrastructure fund that would be used for sustainability, clean transportation, and renewable energy projects. H.2810 would impose a fee of $20 on every ton of CO2 emitted in the commonwealth. The fee would increase by $5 a year until it reached $40. It is crucial that we pass strong legislation like H.2810 this session if we are to stop climate change.
Please show your support for H.2810 by telling your friends and family about this bill, and calling or writing your representatives with your support. Find your legislator at: malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator
Alexander Davidson Carroll
Montague