Many of us have long wondered why the fossil fuel industry, unlike the rest of us, pays no fee for disposal of its garbage, carbon dioxide emissions. Mindful of that, Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, said months ago that while the Clean Air Act and regional approaches to reducing carbon emissions have merit, “There is room for a national carbon initiative.” As a member of the Armed Forces Committee, King is aware that climate change greatly impacts national defense, so he is especially anxious to do something about it. On Nov. 10 in Orono he said he is “hopeful of movement soon.”

Movement has already taken place in California, whose legislature recently passed a resolution asking Congress to enact legislation (such as that proposed by Citizens’ Climate Lobby) to charge a garbage fee to fossil industries and return 100 percent of the fee as monthly dividend checks to U.S. households, thus creating a market-driven approach to clean energy.

All of the above and more will be discussed Nov. 18 at a Climate Solutions Conference at the University of New England. King will be the keynote speaker, joined by presenters from the Natural Resources Council of Maine and the Citizens’ Climate Lobby.

Having a president-elect who believes that climate change is a hoax inspires those of us who believe otherwise to work harder than ever to find solutions.

Fern Stearns

Hallowell