The Herald recently reported about the Colorado Legislature and the state lawmakers debate over our state’s budget for air pollution control. I understand that the Supreme Court recently put a temporary delay on the implementation of federal carbon-pollution standards.

That said, I favor the Clean Power Plan and agree with Gov. Hickenlooper: “What we want to be looking at is how do we get clean air.” It’s time to put pride and partisanship aside and for the Colorado Legislature and take action to support the health of Colorado’s people and tourism/economy for clean air.

I also request state Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg and Reps. Don Coram and J. Paul Brown to consider our state taking the lead in clean power. The market-based solution called carbon fee and dividend would provide economic incentives to reduce our dependency on fossil fuel and increase innovation and incentives for proven cleaner energy alternatives (solar and wind). Benefits on the plan include increased jobs for our state and no new taxes. Carbon fee and dividend would help Colorado move from status quo to status clean!

Susan Atkinson

Durango