This past summer was a tough one. One of the things I love about Utah is hiking the Wasatch, but this year’s smoke has had me trapped on a treadmill. I’ve missed the mountains, where the wonder of God’s creation nourishes both body and soul in a way that a treadmill cannot.
Unfortunately, “California on fire“ and the smoke that flows to Utah has been predicted as likely to come with climate damage. I’d had a hard time imagining what this could be like until this summer. Certainly the problem stems from a mix of climate damage plus PG&E’s faulty old infrastructure (most of the major fires were sparked by that), along with faulty forest management. But sparks won’t do such great damage without the West’s long-term drought. And California’s dry lightning — another cause of fire — is a new thing.
Fortunately, we can do something to minimize fire, smoke and drought. Let’s trust the market to work by placing a price on carbon that reflects the real damage it does, and return the proceeds to the American people.
Robert Cooper
South Jordan