Editor,

The August storm of 2015 was the worst in Washington’s history. Winds of 90 mph were recorded. Two people died in Washington state, crushed by falling trees. Half a million people were without power.

Meanwhile, smoke from record wildfires created severe air quality problems. Respirators were worn indoors. Air quality in Portland was six times worse than Beijing.

Record-setting wildfires were the result of record-setting heat and drought which are also taking a toll on salmon, the region’s iconic species.

What to do?

Carbon Washington’s initiative I-732 would tax fossil fuel producers and use the revenues to help Washington residents get fossil fuel free and grow a resilient, renewable energy economy.

The tax is similar to a system British Columbia enacted in 2008.

According to The Economist magazine, the tax has reduced fuel consumption 16 percent, while British Columbia’s economy continues to grow on pace with the rest of Canada.

This approach has the support of economists from both liberal and conservative persuasions including the Niskanen Center, a libertarian policy group.

In “The Conservative Case for a Carbon Tax,” they say “replacing subsidies for green energy and regulations on coal and natural gas with a simple, revenue-neutral carbon tax would address climate change in an efficient, free-market way that would actually shrink government bureaucracy and spending.” Wondering how you would be affected? Computer scientists from the University of Washington created a calculator to determine that. It’s available at carbon.cs.washington.edu

To date the campaign, launched in April, has collected more than 180,000 signatures towards the 315,000 signatures needed by December. In addition, high school and college students can get a $500 scholarship to help gather signatures! You can find out more and/or fund a CarbonWA scholarship on their website. CarbonWA.org. It is up to us. Thanks.

Gary Piazzon

Coupeville