It seems like all around me are high school and college graduates. If you are a graduate or you know/love one, I’m thinking of you and wish you (or yours) all good things as you figure out your place in this world.
This week’s must read: Plastic may be warming the planet more than we thought (Washington Post)
Not to be the bearing of bad news…
“Plastic production creates about 5 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions, according to a 2024 report from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory— more than all shippingorthe entire airline industry. That estimate accounts for gases released when companies drill for oil and gas, transport it to refineries, turn it into plastic and mold it into products. But the estimate doesn’t consider how microplastics in the ocean and soil disrupt the natural cycles that pull carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and cool the planet.”
See why I am obsessed with my refillable water bottle and with not buying superfluous single use plastic?
Rep. Fitzpatrick reintroduces the MARKET CHOICE Act
This week, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick reintroduced his carbon pricing bill, the MARKET CHOICE Act, which lays out a fiscally responsible, pro-growth blueprint to cut pollution, boost competitiveness, and rebuild the nation’s critical infrastructure—all without increasing the federal deficit.
“The MARKET CHOICE Act is a fiscally responsible, pro-growth solution to two of our most urgent challenges: rebuilding our infrastructure and addressing climate change,” he said in a statement. “By empowering the private sector, reducing harmful emissions, and replacing an outdated gas tax with a smarter, more sustainable model, this bill will generate long-term investments in American infrastructure while promoting energy innovation, economic opportunity, and environmental stewardship.”
The bill eliminates outdated federal gas and diesel taxes and replaces them with a steadily rising fee on greenhouse gas emissions—ensuring polluters, not taxpayers, bear the cost. The revenue is deposited into a new Rebuilding Infrastructure and Solutions for the Environment (RISE) Trust Fund, supporting transformative investments in clean infrastructure, transportation, energy innovation, and climate resilience, and establishes a bipartisan National Climate Commission to track progress, ensure transparency, and guide policy using science and data.
Reflections from Bob Inglis: Something’s in the air. Or maybe it’s the water.
Below is a reflection piece from Bob, who has been traveling to Georgia to talk about the Peach State’s role in solving climate change
At Fort Pulaski, less than 15 miles from Savannah, sea level has risen seven inches since 2010, one of the fastest rates of rising seas in the country. That sea level rise also brings saltwater intrusion into water wells on the coastal plain, affecting homeowners and farmers alike. Because of climate change, the Southeast is also more prone to dangerous heat waves, extreme weather, and risks to agriculture.
Yes, I said climate change. And yes, as a conservative, I think there’s something that we can do about it, with Georgia leading the way.
For too long, Americans have been told that we have to make a choice between the economy and the environment, but that is a false choice. The reality is that innovations and technology that improve the environment can be a boon to the economy. The $7.6 billion Hyundai EV and EV-hybrid plant is an example of that. It’s the largest economic development project in Georgia’s history and will return benefits to all Georgians. In fact, the Center for Automotive Research says the company’s total investment in the state will create 40,000 direct and indirect jobs and generate $4.6 billion in individual earnings annually.
Why did Hyundai decide to site their investment here? The company’s executives read the market signals, saw the welcoming landscape, and jumped. We should applaud these clean energy investments.
Energy optimists and climate realists on the “EcoRight,” a balance to the “Environmental Left,” are vital to the development of clean energy policies that grow our local and state economies, just like what the Hyundai plant is doing. The EcoRight believes in the power of American free enterprise and innovation to solve climate change. Together, we encourage, embolden, and applaud conservative climate leadership. We are also critical to de-politicizing the Environmental Left’s hold on climate change solutions. Nobody should sacrifice their conservative values to protect the environment and our future. Our conservative values are not only part of our identity, they are key to effective climate solutions.
ICYMI: Register for our webinar!
There’s still time to register for our May 21st webinar, featuring Alex Trembath of the Breakthrough Institute. He will explore how climate policy must evolve in a world grappling with post-COVID recovery, the war in Ukraine, energy bottlenecks, AI disruption, and supply chain stress.
Click here to register. Whether you’re a policymaker, advocate, or just curious about the future of climate action, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.
The EcoRight Speaks: the cat ate my homework
Sorry to not deliver a new episode of the EcoRight Speaks. To make a short story long, I had two recordings scheduled, but my elderly cat (Fang, pictured above) was in distress and needed to go to the vet and the only time available was during the interviews. Both interviewees had to reschedule for dates past our drop date. So here we are! I highly recommend catching up on a past episode you might have missed!
On that note, I’m off to see a cat about her meds. Have a good weekend.