By Adam Reed
Last December as I drove through West Texas, I gazed intently at the very machines that fuel our daily lives. All around me were pumpjacks and drilling rigs, machines that thrive in a region known as the Permian Basin — one of the most active oil fields in the world.
But this region is more than just an oil field. Amid restless tumbleweeds and blazing sunlight, I found myself appreciating how West Texas also has an abundance of wind and sun — fuel for the large wind and solar farms all around me. These energy riches represent an enormous opportunity for our nation to add more clean and affordable technologies to our energy mix. As I thought about this opportunity, I found myself thinking more about how ordinary citizens can help contribute to it.
This reflection actually originated a few years before my trip through West Texas. When I was a physics graduate student at the University of Colorado Boulder, I believed it was mostly up to scientists and engineers to “save the world” by developing innovative energy technologies. This perspective came from Richard Smalley, a Nobel prize winner in chemistry who remarked “Be a scientist and save the world.” Smalley was an advocate for science and rightly recognized the need for it as we confront our growing energy demands. I eventually realized, however, that there’s more to his remark than I initially imagined.
Beyond relying on breakthroughs in science and technology, we need effective energy policy. Nagging at me were questions like what policies do we need and how do we get them enacted? I found myself guided toward answers after about half a dozen of my physics classmates started doing something unusual: They took a break from their research and began volunteering for Citizens’ Climate Lobby.
There’s a lot packed into this three-word name. When I first joined, I focused on the last two: Climate and Lobby. And so I lobbied Congress for a piece of carbon-pricing legislation called the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act. Despite my sincere effort to build bipartisan support, I often got criticized by both conservatives and progressives. This criticism persisted — until I learned a new approach.
Instead of just talking, I learned to listen. It started in November 2019, when I traveled to Washington, D.C. and lobbied Congress in person for my first time. There I was joined by over 800 other volunteers from across the United States. In just one day, we met with over 480 congressional offices. During these meetings, I learned the power of three magic words: “Tell me more.” Tell me more about your thoughts, your values, your concerns. These words weren’t coming from paid lobbyists working for a corporation or a powerful think tank. Rather, they came from ordinary citizens.
And that’s when the first word in Citizens’ Climate Lobby started to sink in. For me, I learned that being an effective citizen involves appreciating the work of others and respecting them. I learned to find common ground with those who disagree with me by listening to them and acknowledging their concerns. And above all, I learned the value of building trusted relationships with my elected representatives and my fellow citizens.
These are the enduring lessons about civic life that I was reminded of while driving through West Texas. I encourage you to consider them as well — check out Citizens’ Climate Lobby and see for yourself what it’s like to be an empowered citizen.
Adam Reed lives in Longmont and is a volunteer for Citizens’ Climate Lobby.
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April 21, 2021 at 03:18AM
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Guest Opinion: Adam Reed: How to be an effective citizen - Boulder Daily Camera
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