The letter decried a my-way-or-the-highway approach to energy, and I completely agreed. All decisions must be made with shared values and in civil meeting rooms.

I also shared the letter’s concern for low-income families. I urge anyone with this concern to study the research on what happens when carbon is priced and the money is returned to American households (remi.com is a great place to start). Carbon pricing allows consumers, not government, to determine what price they are willing to pay for their energy, and the cash influx makes a huge difference for low-income earners.

Minnesota’s Citizens Utility Board (cubminnesota.org) exists to serve Minnesotans as utility consumers. Whether you are concerned that the transfer to renewables is too slow or too quick, this nonprofit provides a wealth of resources for those with limited income.