Members of the Citizens' Climate Lobby stand on the Capitol steps during a trip in 2019, which Bruce Cooper took part in. Submitted photo

On June 10, Bruce Cooper will hop into an electric vehicle and carpool to Washington, D.C., to meet with national legislators and policymakers.

Cooper has been heading up the Slippery Rock Chapter of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby since 2017, and has made the journey to the nation’s capitol several times since then for the biannual climate conference, because he is concerned about the future of Earth’s climate.

“I've got four grandkids, and climate change is not going to bother me, but it's going to bother all them,” Cooper said. “I'd like them to all live to the end of the century, and for the planet to be habitable at that point. But it's not looking good.”

Before the lobby meetings, volunteers will attend the group’s international 2023 Climate Lobbying Reboot June Conference, where they will hear from speakers, according to Cooper.

During their day on Capitol Hill, Citizens’ Climate Lobby members will meet with legislators to urge them to co-sponsor the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act when it is reintroduced in the House, Cooper said.

Cooper said the lobby group will discuss with legislators, including U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-16th, ways to cut carbon emissions throughout the nation. He specifically called for a carbon tax in hopes that it would cut down on fuel use.

“We want to put a tax into effect on carbon, and that is going to be more expensive so the idea is to have them use less of that stuff,” Cooper said. “Half of the House doesn't think carbon tax is a good idea, every economist does. It's an uphill battle.”

Cooper said he may be the only person from Butler County to attend the conference this year, but said more people can get involved if they are interested in the cause. He said he and other members of the lobby group want to tell politicians what they would like to see in the coming legislative years, in order to improve climate outcomes.

“I hope we can at least let them know we are appreciative of the Inflation Reduction Act,” Cooper said. “The new deal that's happening, the government has a lot of permitting language in it. More efficient permitting of the electrical grid is critical if we're going to get where we need to be.”

For more information on the Citizens’ Climate Lobby, visit energyinnovationact.org.