Protect our winters

Congratulations to all who made the film “75 Years.” I love the stunning mountain views, children laughing as they ski, and the serene music. The message is clear – we must protect our winters. But, what can we do to prevent these playful snow scenes from being distant memories in another 75 years?

Scientists have studied why our planet is warming. They conclude we have wrapped the Earth in a blanket of pollution that is trapping heat. It is established fact that the distinctive molecular fingerprints in this pollution are unmistakably from fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas.

Recent new laws provide lots of incentives for clean energy. Still, old coal plants are being kept in service. New gas-fired plants are being built. As long as it’s profitable to keep billowing exhaust, big polluters will not change their ways.

We need a big solution. Let’s charge fossil fuel makers a fee based on the exhaust their products will release when burned. Businesses, including power plants, will find ways to stop polluting to stay profitable.

And, a novel idea that goes well with carbon pricing is “carbon cashbacks.” Canada has this. They send their carbon fee revenue back to households in quarterly “climate income” checks.

What can you do? Tell Senators Daines and Tester, and Congressman Zinke you want to protect our winters with a price on pollution. Envision your great, great grandchildren enjoying ski days like today and knowing you cared to make it possible for them.

Robin Paone, Whitefish