Barbara Alexander favors progressive taxes over carbon pricing to fund infrastructure and accelerate the transition to renewable energy (“Don’t hurt poor while helping the environment,” Jan. 22).

Not a bad idea but there’s a better one: Carbon pricing with dividends, often called carbon cashback pricing.

There are several advantages to this policy. The money collected, based on carbon emissions per ton of fuel, comes from fossil fuel companies, not from income taxes. All fees collected are paid to U.S. households monthly protecting low- and middle-income citizens. A consistent energy price signal incentivizes business and industry to transition to renewable energy. New jobs result from demand for renewable energy infrastructure providing an economic boost. And of course it quickly reduces the source of planetary climate change, carbon emissions.

Carbon pricing — with dividends — is on the way. Carbon cashback pricing narrowly missed passage last year in Congress. At least 45 countries now use carbon pricing in some form. Soon the U.S. will be subject to fees on our exports to Europe unless we institute our own carbon price.

This policy is not a silver bullet but its many advantages, especially its protections for the most economically vulnerable, make it an essential component for any plan that aims to mitigate climate change

Bonnie Sammons

Belgrade