DEAR EDITOR:

Alan Masaitis responded to the recent letter from the Citizens’ Climate Lobby regarding moving to a clean energy environment with a letter titled, “Climate change not worthy of stimulus.”

This presents an opportunity to further dialogue on this matter. Citizens’ Climate Lobby supports bipartisan solutions to climate change. We agree that adding to the federal debt at this time would not be wise. The solution specifically addressed in the April 28 letter has no effect on the U.S. debt.

In fact, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act (HR763) would enact a fee on carbon emissions and return the revenue to families in the form of a dividend. This solution reverses the unfair and taxpayer-subsidized advantage that the fossil fuel industry has in the market and incentivizes the market to deliver competitive clean energy solutions to end the harmful impacts of fossil fuels on our communities. You can read more about HR 763 at energyinnovationact.org.

Citizens’ Climate Lobby’s letter supported the current approach to put funds in the hands of Americans to get through a pandemic of no fault of our own and help our economy and families get through this crisis in our public health. The alternative to millions of Americans and to our economy is ruin.

Citizens’ Climate Lobby is made up of everyday Americans — conservatives and liberals — in 590 chapters across the country, including right here in the Mahoning Valley. Members give of their time and talents to work toward a clean energy future.

We can reduce carbon emissions by 40 percent in the next 12 years, create 2.1 million new jobs and stop paying the steep price in our health, extreme weather and rising shorelines.

There are numerous independent studies by scientists and economists that support these projections.

Isn’t it time that public policy supports our environment, public health and a clean-energy future?

KAREN ZEHR

JOHN SABIN

Youngstown