According to The Associated Press (“Texas seeks $61 billion to ‘future proof’ before next great storm,” Nov. 9), Texas experienced $180 billion in damages from Hurricane Harvey, and seeks $61 billion from Congress for infrastructure improvements in preparation for the next storm.
For 20 years, scientists have said that excessive greenhouse gas emissions are likely to increase the frequency and severity of extreme weather events. One good way to reduce emissions is to tax the pollution and to fund the solution.
A coalition of labor, social justice, and environmental groups is planning to place a measure on the ballot next year to do that. We need 1,000 volunteers to collect signatures.
We also need local action. I urge the city councils in Clark County to adopt the aspirational goal of replacing all fossil fuels, as much as possible, with renewable energy by 2050, like Portland.
