Most folks want energy costs to go down, so it’s rare to find a group pushing for energy costs to increase.

But that’s the intention of a chapter of the Citizens Climate Lobby forming in Lawrence. Their goal is to convince politicians to place a fee on carbon to help speed the transition to a clean energy economy.

The idea originated with James Hansen, head of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies and author of the book “Storms of My Grandchildren.”

Any carbon that comes from the ground, such as coal, oil and natural gas, would be taxed. The revenue would be distributed evenly among households through a monthly dividend. The fees increase gradually over time.

The hope is for the carbon fee to produce more innovation and investment in clean energy and for the dividend to help ease consumers’ transition to a clean energy future.

“When people hear about this, they are really intrigued and feel very positive about the concept once they understand what it is,” said Lynate Pettengill, who is spearheading the formation of the Lawrence chapter.

The Lawrence chapter will have its first meeting on Nov. 16, during which Citizens Climate Lobby executive director Mark Reynolds will talk. The meeting will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Delaware Street Commons, 1222 Del.

For more information, contact Pettengill at 785-331-0625 or e-mail her at lynatepettengill@yahoo.com. More information about the organization is available at CitizensClimateLobby.org.