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Editor, News-Register:
According to Marc Thiessen, the climate measures in the Inflation Reduction Act are merely "virtue signaling" for the benefit of the "climate-obsessed" because, according to Thiessen, they will have only a small impact on greenhouse gas emissions ("Act Won't Reduce Inflation," Aug. 28th). Thiessen does some cherry picking to support this claim, relying on the views of climate skeptic Bjorn Lomborg, while ignoring the broad consensus of analysts who predict that by 2030 the Act will reduce carbon pollution by about 40% from 2005 levels. The $369 billion investments in climate measures in the Inflation Reduction Act are carefully constructed to be the seed money for a clean energy revolution, sparking the technological innovations needed for a transition to carbon neutrality and energy independence. In addition to creating high paying jobs, these investments will restore the United States to a position of leadership in the global fight against the climate crisis. Now that we are cleaning up our own house, the U.S. has some moral authority as it negotiates with other countries about reducing greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.
Thiessen is on more solid ground when he claims that the Inflation Reduction Act won't have much of an effect on inflation, at least in the short term. However, nonpartisan analysis predicts long term benefits from reduced health care and energy costs, and economic benefits from its measures to reduce the deficit. Slowing the impacts of climate change is also good for the economy. While no congressional act is perfect, West Virginians can be proud that Sen. Manchin did not give up on the negotiations that made this legislation possible, and should ignore the misleading obfuscations of partisan pundits like Thiessen.
Roberta Richards
Wheeling