The war in Ukraine has caused a dramatic increase in the price of oil and natural gas. Some are using this situation to call for increased drilling and fracking to bring more fossil fuels online. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., even suggested more investments in natural gas terminals. These policies dangerous and wrong-headed.
Burning more fossil fuels will make it even more difficult to meet our goals on cutting greenhouse gas emissions. The recent IPCC concludes “Any further delay in concerted global action will miss a brief and rapidly closing window to secure a livable future.”
Some talk about natural gas as being cleaner as it emits less carbon dioxide. But natural gas emits methane, which dissipates more quickly than carbon dioxide but has 25 times or more heat-trapping power.
Instead, we must reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, bringing more stability to the energy market, increasing our national security, and giving us cleaner air to breathe. It is time we put a price on carbon to discourage its production, using the revenue as cash back to American families.
Kristi Weir
Bellevue
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