Draft Sixth Power Plan Comment

The Northwest is on the cusp of being a national leader in addressing climate change and improving our health, environment, and energy future. I applaud the Council's decision to include strong energy efficiency targets in the draft Sixth Power Plan, but we must go further. We cannot truly protect ourselves from both the financial and social risks of climate change without setting a strong price for the cost of carbon, therefore I am asking you to return the Council staff's basecase carbon model of $47 per ton by 2030. And we cannot truly solve climate change without taking substantive steps to end our reliance on the biggest culprit in global warming pollution -- coal. A Council staff analysis demonstrates that the Northwest can become coal free by 2020 in steps that are both achievable and affordable. Finally, the Sixth Power Plan does not address reducing the region's carbon emissions it only seeks to stabilize them. I would like to see the Sixth Power Plan at least set forth CO2 reduction targets consistent with those targets already in place in Montana, Oregon, and Washington. I attended the meeting at the Doubletree a few weeks ago, and I would echo the call of many other is primarily praising the Sixth Power Plan, but also calling for a REDUCTION in the number of coal burning power plants. My favorite quote of the night was from a gentleman who is a member of the Ravalli electric co-op who stated "it is time we nut-up and do what's right," and I agree. As a student I realize that the full measure of the consequences of carbon will not be felt for us, but for our future generations. Previous generations of policy makers were judged on various things: world wars, "conflicts", and peaceful negotiations, and climate change will be your legacy- make the right choice not for yourself, but for the future. Thank You.