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Local residents lobby congress on climate change solution

aspenpitkin.com

Aspen City Council is getting behind a national effort to address climate change. On Monday council gave initial support for what’s called a “Carbon Fee and Dividend” proposal. 

In June seven Roaring Fork Valley residents, including an Aspen city staffer, traveled to Washington DC to sway elected officials to support the Carbon Fee and Dividend policy proposal. It would apply a fee to carbon-based fuels. Revenues from the fee would be returned to households across the country.

Aspen resident Ruthie Brown was part of the local group. She told city council Monday they met mostly with republican lawmakers.

"In the meetings we met with (Rep. Scott) Tipton, (Sen. Cory) Gardner, but also with (Sen. Michael) Bennet. We made big inroads, great traction in Tipton’s office. He was very interested in what we were talking about and their staff was very attuned to this being a market-based solution."

Citizens' Climate Lobby is behind the Carbon Fee and Dividend proposal. It’s a volunteer group that has two local chapters.