Richmond Times-Dispatch: Letter to the editor

The following letter to the editor from CCL volunteer Eric Vrabel was published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch on March 12, 2011.

Drilling is not the answer to energy crisis

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

The recent uprising in the Middle East has brought energy policy to the forefront once again. Americans are again paying more at the pump and are concerned about the stability of energy supplies.

Some would say that we should drill for more oil domestically. However, there are many negatives to this option, including pollution, the possibility that reserves may not be as large as expected, the time it will take for this oil to reach the market, and climate change.
Additionally, more drilling here is a stop-gap measure. All oil reserves are finite. We need a permanent solution.

A more viable solution is to transition to renewable energy by putting a price on carbon. A direct fee on carbon-based fuels, increasing gradually over time, would send the predictable price signal needed to speed the transition to clean energy. Returning revenue for the carbon fee to families will shield households from the economic impact of rising energy costs.

Legislation based on the Million Letter March Principles (a writing campaign aimed at stopping climate change) would put us on the right track to solve our nation's energy problems. Ask your senators and
representatives to support this legislation.

Eric Vrabel.

Midlothian.