Virologist Dr. Walter King makes the case for the Clean Electricity Performance Program, which passed the U.S. House and must be approved by the Senate. His letter was published in Foster’s and in the Concord Monitor.
The moment is now.
Recently the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved the $150 billion Clean Electricity Performance Program and now it heads to the Senate. Nationwide we finally have an opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions significantly.
Congress is considering a Clean Electricity Payment Program (CEPP) to help ensure that 80 percent of the electricity that’s produced in the US by 2030 comes from clean sources – key to meeting the commitment we made under the Paris Climate Agreement, a commitment that is our fair share toward helping the world avoid the worst effects of climate change.
Additionally, CEPP would create 7.7 million new jobs and add $907 billion to the U.S. economy by 2031. CEPP would also have public health benefits, as other states would be emitting less particulate matter that ends up in our state. A recent research report from Harvard University, in collaboration with the University of Birmingham, the University of Leicester, and the University College London showed that deaths from fossil fuel emissions are higher than previously thought, fossil fuel air pollution responsible for more than 8 million people worldwide in 2018.
Congress must enact a clean energy incentive program this fall. A shift to clean energy would create jobs right here in NH. Senator Hassan and the rest of NH’s congressional delegation will play a pivotal role in determining our climate future, and they should support a CEPP and fund the climate provisions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Plan and the reconciliation package.
About the author:
Walter is a retired research and development executive who worked at several leading global healthcare companies including GE Healthcare, Whatman and Abbott Diagnostics. He developed FDA-cleared products for several cancer and prenatal genetic diseases as well as infectious diseases. He is an emeritus member of the American Association for Cancer Research. He completed his college and graduate studies at the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Chicago respectively and completed his postdoctoral studies at the Columbia University Medical Center. In his retirement he serves on the City of Dover Energy Commission and is a member of the New Hampshire Democratic Committee, as well as serving as the Chair of Strafford County Dems and being on Dover Dems’ Executive Committee.