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Wednesday, March 3, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
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Editorial…
Let Sisters’ events go forward
Sisters9 major events 4 Sisters Rodeo,
Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, our music fes-
tivals 4 are a vital part of the fabric of our
community.
The economic impacts they provide are
significant, but their cultural impacts are
even more important. These events support
scholarships and major educational programs
in our schools, and stoke lifelong passions in
youth and adults alike. They weave Sisters9
sense of identity, and enhance our quality of
life.
They must be allowed to go forward this
summer.
Event organizers for all of these programs
are in a tricky spot. The events don9t occur
til summer 4 and signs point to summer
bringing significant relief from the COVID-
19 pandemic. But organizers can9t wait til
the pandemic actually recedes to make deci-
sions about whether and how the events can
go forward. They have to start making com-
mitments to performers, vendors, and partici-
pants in April.
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and
Governor Kate Brown need to immediately
develop and roll out a plan under which
large-scale events such as those that grace
Sisters through the summer and fall can
safely come back to serve the community and
their patrons.
The City of Sisters and Deschutes County
do not call the shots on what is allowed or not
allowed. They can, however, advocate for our
community, and assure the state that they will
assist in ensuring that events follow appropri-
ate protocols. Local citizens, too, can write
their representatives, the governor, and OHA
to seek action.
We urge the Sisters City Council and the
Deschutes County Board of Commissioners
to lobby the governor to take action now to
provide clarity and guidance for organizers of
major events so that they can effectively plan
for how they can safely and responsibly get
back in the saddle.
Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief
Letters to the Editor…
The Nugget welcomes contributions from its readers, which must include the writer9s name, address and
phone number. Letters to the Editor is an open forum for the community and contains unsolicited opinions
not necessarily shared by the Editor. The Nugget reserves the right to edit, omit, respond or ask for a
response to letters submitted to the Editor. Letters should be no longer than 300 words. Unpublished items
are not acknowledged or returned. The deadline for all letters is 10 a.m. Monday.
To the Editor:
Tom Vilsack9s nomination as secretary
of agriculture does not belong within Joe
Biden9s progressive agenda.
Vilsack has served as governor of Iowa,
secretary of agriculture under President
Obama, and chief lobbyist for the dairy
industry. His candidacy is opposed by a vast
coalition of small and minority farmers, as
well as consumer, labor, and environmental
advocates. Here9s why:
He presided over consolidation of Big Ag
to take unfair advantage of small farmers.
He failed to protect minority farmers and
See LETTERS on page 15
Sisters Weather Forecast
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Wednesday
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The Nugget Newspaper, LLC
Website: www.nuggetnews.com
442 E. Main Ave., P.O. Box 698, Sisters, Oregon 97759
Tel: 541-549-9941 | Email: editor@nuggetnews.com
Postmaster: Send address changes to
The Nugget Newspaper,
P.O. Box 698, Sisters, OR 97759.
Third Class Postage Paid at Sisters, Oregon.
Editor in Chief: Jim Cornelius
N
A carbon reduction
solution to like
By Susan Cobb
Guest Columnist
Now that a majority of
humanity agrees climate
change is in crisis mode,
regardless of why, we all
know we need to get more
done to reverse that threat to
our children9s futures. There
are two corrections to slow
and then reverse climate
change: reduce emissions of
greenhouse gases (GHGs)
and increase sequestration
of carbon dioxide. This
communique will share
the best solution to reduce
emissions of GHGs effi-
ciently, effectively and with
benefits to you.
The Energy Innovation
& Carbon Dividend Act
puts a price on carbon emis-
sions and gives the collected
funds to the people. The
bill was introduced in the
last two Congresses and is
on track to be reintroduced
in the 117th Congress this
spring. Over 100 state and
local governments have
passed resolutions in sup-
port of a carbon fee and
dividend policy.
What it does:
" Puts a price per ton
on carbon emissions at the
source (where mined or
drilled for and importing
of same) assuring the true
cost of burning fossil fuel is
included in the price of its
use. This allows a market-
driven response to the price
increase. Yes, the price of
fossil fuels will go up for
consumers, but please, stand
by to understand how that is
not an issue.
" C re a te s a C a rb o n
D i v i d e n d Tr u s t F u n d
(CDTF) as a repository,
within the U.S. Treasury, for
the fees collected.
" Uses existing U.S.
agencies and processes to
assess, apply fees, and to
disburse the CDTF funds in
equal shares to U.S. citizens
and legal residents. Thus,
there are no new govern-
ment programs.
" Every U.S. citizen,
legal resident, and their chil-
dren (under 19 years of age)
receive(s) a monthly divi-
dend from the fund via the
IRS (one full share to adults,
half-share to children).
" The CDTF monthly
dividends will address the
higher costs of fossil fuels.
For those with low incomes,
it will defray the increased
cost of fossil fuels. For citi-
zens with sufficient funds,
the dividend checks may
lead to investing in cleaner
energy solutions at home or
within their businesses.
" Farmers and ranch-
ers are reimbursed for the
increased expense of their
on-farm/ranch fossil fuel
usage.
" If industries apply
or increase their carbon-
sequestration efforts, they
will receive payments or
refunds as defined by the
U.S. Secretary of State.
" To not double charge
consumers and manufac-
turing, the EPA laws that
currently apply fees for the
same GHGs emissions as
in the Energy Innovation
& Dividend Act, will be on
hold while the act is proven
effective at driving down
emissions, and if not, the
EPA laws will be reinstated.
" There are border carbon
adjustments, which refund
U.S. exporters or import-
ers, for any additional GHG
emissions9 fees paid to other
countries above the Energy
Innovation & Carbon
Dividend Act fees paid.
" The expense to admin-
ister the CDTF is very low;
8 percent of CDTF total per
year for first five years and
thereafter, not greater than 2
percent of a five-year roll-
ing total of the CDTF.
What9s not to like?
If you want a closer
look at the policy, sponsors,
and statements of support,
please go to www.energy
innovationact.org. Or, if
you would like a more
detailed presentation on the
bill and comparison with
cap-and-trade, please see
article www.outrider.org/
climate-change/articles/
carbon-fee-dividend/. Urge
your senators and represen-
tatives to review and pass
this act. The more we speak
up, the more they are aware
of what we like and want.
Therefore, the more likely it
will become law.
Production Manager: Leith Easterling
Creative Director: Jess Draper
Views expressed in this column are solely those of the writer and
are not necessarily shared by the Editor or The Nugget Newspaper.
Community Marketing
Partner: Vicki Curlett
Classifieds & Circulation: Lisa May
Owner: J. Louis Mullen
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hibited. All advertising which appears in The Nugget is the property of The Nugget and may not be used without explicit permission. The Nugget
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subject to The Nugget Newspaper9s unrestricted right to edit and comment editorially, that all rights are currently available, and that the material
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Contact information for the elected
officials that represent Sisters
residents can be found on page 8:
“Contact your representatives...”