Note to CCLer: customize the letter below, especially the words in red. Then copy/paste it in a new email message addressed to your contractor.

_______ Copy everything below this line _______

Subject: Can you sign the Carbon-free Energy Climate Declaration?

Hey Jeff:

I hope you and yours are well. Our solar installation is working great, we are so thankful to have it these days. We are thinking about getting a backup battery!

This pandemic has been difficult, but continued climate change will be much, much worse. We need big bold climate policy action now!

That’s why I am a volunteer for Citizens' Climate Lobby, and I want you to know about a climate solution that is good for the economy and the solar industry: the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act (EICDA). Would you be willing to sign on to our Carbon-Free Energy Industry Climate Declaration? It will help position powerful and bipartisan legislation like the EICDA for enactment by Congress this year.

For details, see the summary of the legislation below provided by Business Climate Leaders (a project of Citizens’ Climate Lobby). You can endorse the principles behind the EICDA, and optionally, the bill itself. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me by email or call ###-###-####, or BCL’s Energy Team at bruceh@businessclimateleaders.

With appreciation,

My Name

SUMMARY: The Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, H.R.2307

“The Energy Innovation Act” is a practical bipartisan solution that is good for the climate, the overall economy and economic justice, and the clean energy industry. It implements a form of “carbon pricing known as Revenue-Neutral Carbon Fee and Dividend (CF&D).” CF&D is not the “silver bullet” to stop global warming, but it’s the single most effective step governments can take, and is complementary to other measures, like regulations and subsidies. It's popular, powerful, fast-acting, and durable. It needs to be the starting point for carbon pricing in the expected package of climate legislation.

CF&D was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives as "The Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2021" (EICDA) by Democrat Ted Deutsch of Florida. As of May 20, it had 56 co-sponsors (a very similar bill in the last Congress had 86 co-sponsors.)

CF&D is simple, transparent, and effective

• The Fee: oil and coal companies pay a steadily and steeply increasing fee on fossil fuel extraction and import. These cost increases leverage the power of market forces to promote clean energy and slash greenhouse gas emissions.

• The Dividend: all fee revenues are paid out to households via substantial* monthly per-capita dividends (* $167/month in year 3 for 2-adult 2-child families.) This will stimulate spending on sustainable products-- like clean energy -- while easing the fast transition to a climate-safe economy.

• The Border Adjustment: imports from countries without comparable carbon pricing will pay the fee at the border. This will prevent the “offshoring” of pollution and incentivize our trading partners to enact similar emissions reduction measures.

Why clean energy companies are supporting the EICDA: it's good for people, the economy, and the clean energy industry.

• It’s effective: it will cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030, 90% by 2050.

• It’s efficient: it uses existing and transparent mechanisms to collect fees from fossil fuel companies and distribute the dividends to families.

• It’s equitable: two-thirds of households (mostly low-and moderate-income) will break even or come out ahead financially. The border adjustment ensures that American products are not undercut by imports from countries without equivalent carbon pricing.

• It’s economical: The fee and dividend combination will create a far more advantageous and reliable incentive to switch from fossil power than the Investment Tax Credit. The ITC has always been at risk for expiration, whereas CF&D's monthly dividend payment will make it nearly impossible for Congress to repeal.

• It’s doable: our “fee and dividend” approach is supported by two-thirds of all voters, including 53% of Republicans. It is also endorsed by nearly 3,600 U.S. economists, including 27 Nobel laureates.

What can you do?

• Take a few minutes to read the Carbon-Free Energy Industry Climate Declaration. If you agree, click the green button and add your company’s name to the growing list of clean energy businesses endorsing Carbon Fee and Dividend.

Business Climate Leaders, a project of Citizens’ Climate Lobby

Mark your calendar, set up a notification, keeping a copy of your original message handy. One week is enough for them to see it and respond.

If they don't respond in a week, take your copy of your original message and "Reply to All" with a simple message (e.g. "friendly reminder :-)"

If they do respond, see Step 3 below.

If they signed and told you: When they get your email, it's not unusual for them to sign and email you back telling you that they did. If that happens, reply by email and a phone call thanking them for signing. We promise you, if you bought solar from them, they will be happy to hear from you so they can tell you the good news. Then, if you want to be a climate superstar, ask them for a referral (see below)

If they signed but didn't tell you, you will eventually be able to see their company name on the Declaration page. But that can take a week (we have to verify authenticity), so we recommend you call them after a week in any case.

You: "Could I talk with Solar Sarah? Sarah, this is Caitlin. How are you? We are loving our solar! Did you see my email about the Carbon-Free Energy Climate Declaration?

Solar Sarah: "Yes, I signed it."

You: "Wonderful, thank you so much! It will be really important for Congress to hear from businesses like yours!

If they signed, ask them for a referral. Referrals are a powerful way to "market your product" -- small businesses thrive on it, and your contractor will appreciate your asking. And, if they agree, and are enthusiastic, consider asking them to become a CCL member and join your Chapter in meeting with your Member of Congress.

You: "I was wondering if you might be able to refer us to anyone else in the solar business who you think might want to sign? ---- If they do, you have a couple of options

You: "I'll send you an email like the one I first sent you, and you can forward it to your friend(s), and copy me." or...

You: "Could you give me their contact information, and I'll email them and cc you?

If they didn't sign and had questions, answer their questions or put them in touch with someone who can.

Solar Sarah: "No, I wasn't sure about..."

You: answer their questions about CCL or EICDA, or say "can I put you in touch with one of our experts?" and then forward the email thread to your local expert or to carolynfrench@ucsb.edu or bruceh@businessclimateleaders.org.

If you've been given a referral, repeat steps 1-3 above with the referred company.