SUN JOURNAL • May 23, 2023
The true costs of burning fossil fuels have not been reflected in their prices. Not only have the fuel industries been subsidized historically, but they have incurred many “negative externalities” — costly side effects such as lung diseases and atmospheric warming. It’s time to use plain old American economics and set the price of these carbon fuels to reflect their true cost. If we charge fossil fuel producers a pollution fee to reflect the climate impact of a given quantity of their product, the pricing will be equitable and sensible. Less expensive non-polluting fuels will be favored in the market, energy efficiency will become more popular, and rapid greenhouse gas emissions reductions will be achieved by not burning as much fossil fuel. Congress should act on this. ~ Cynthia Stancioff, Chesterville