Market forces, not taxes, best method to reduce carbon emission

June 16, 2016

Reno Gazette-Journal

Dennis George, Nevada Vets4Energy volunteer chairman

Every time American military forces deploy, they are fighting to preserve the American way of life — democracy, freedom of speech, freedom of religion and free markets, which have made America the most prosperous nation in the history of the planet.

Allan Ferrenberg’s column (“One View: A better way to fight climate change,” June 6) proposes placing punitive taxes and fees on carbon-based forms of energy. While I’m sure the author of this piece makes this proposal in good faith, it is nevertheless wrong-headed and will have the effect of hurting the people who can afford it least.

This proposal would achieve little more than making the most common forms of energy more expensive for regular, everyday Nevadans. Think right now about your electric bill that powers your home’s air conditioner. Now imagine paying even more each month just to keep your house cool. For Nevada businesses, these increased energy costs would have the effect of raising the prices of the goods and services these businesses provide. That would mean yet even more money coming out of the pockets of consumers.

We can all agree that reducing carbon emissions is an important goal. The good news is that market forces in the American energy sector are already doing just that. Our use of hydraulic fracturing to reach otherwise-unreachable stores of natural gas has allowed that form of energy to reduce our reliance on coal.

Read more at Reno Gazette-Journal.