Earth’s climate is changing at a rate 10 to 100 times faster than the natural progression in the last 450,000 years. This is primarily due to the increasing concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, caused by burning fossil fuels.

Congress in 2009 made the only national attempt to limit this carbon pollution, and failed. Other states have passed legislation to limit carbon pollution, with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative back east, and California’s cap and trade system.

Now it’s Washington state’s turn to address carbon pollution. Senate Bill 6203 (SB6203) taxes carbon dioxide emitted from the burning of fossil fuel and finances energy efficiency projects with the proceeds. SB6203 can be read at the web site: https:\app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=6203&year2017.

SB6203 stimulates our utilities to invest in renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, reducing Washington’s annual 11 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from fossil fuel generated electricity. SB6203 finances transportation efficiency projects that will reduce Washington’s annual 43 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions from the transportation sector.

Global warming should not be a partisan issue. Reducing carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere is an action that should be supported.

Bruce Bailey

Colville