Op-Eds and Letters

In the Oct. 17, 2020 Pennsylvania Bulletin, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced its intention to approve the construction of a 1,240 MW electric power plant that would use natural gas and diesel fuel in Renovo, Pa. (http://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/secure/pabulletin/data/vol50/50-42/50-42.pdf). According to the information provided, yearly emissions from the facility would include up to 5 tons of formaldehyde, 20 tons of total combined hazardous air pollutants, 35 tons of sulfuric acid, 53 tons of sulfur oxides, 102 tons of volatile organic compounds, 212 tons of… Read More »Renovo Power Plant

When will weather reports start telling us what really is happening? How many excessive wildfires will it take? How many Greek named hurricanes will it take? How many droughts will it take? Weather reports need to make it clear that the weather we are experiencing is not merely “unusual” or “first-time ever” or “extreme heat” or “rare melting” or “record setting.” This is the climate crisis upon us and causing deaths, health problems and costs. We need to act now. It is hard to think… Read More »Putting Weather in Perspective

It’s been alarming to see the lack of discussion this election season over our most threatening challenge as humans: climate change, with barely a mention by candidates, indicating just how low it is on the minds of voters. I suppose a pandemic and economic collapse outweigh the threat. But unlike political polarization, it’s taken generations of greenhouse gas accumulation to show itself, as severe weather, encroaching sea level rise, drought, and stresses on already-fragile regions that exacerbate instability and migration. It’ll get worse. Read more… Read More »The Mother of All Threats

Nearly three-quarters of Pennsylvania voters favor the state’s entry into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a multi-state partnership aimed at reducing the production of carbon dioxide from power plants. That is based on a poll of 659 registered voters in Pennsylvania taken between September 8 and 11 on behalf of the Yale Program for Climate Communication. The margin of error is four percent. Fully 70 percent of those polled said they supported “regulations to reduce carbon dioxide pollution from power plants in Pennsylvania.” And… Read More »Poll Shows Broad Support for Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative in Pa.

Really, it’s the climate! The most important subject for voters this fall is voting for individuals who understand the factual science of climate change and will vote to do something about it. This is true at all levels. President Trump has said climate change is a hoax and that “it will get cooler.” Despite mountains and mountains of data going back over a hundred years, he thinks that seasons and weather are climate. Joe Biden knows better. Rep. Glenn Thompson has told me that “the… Read More »Time to Act Now on Climate Change

Recently, the American Fisheries Society released a historic document in which 111 aquatic scientific societies from around the world called for decisive action to combat climate change (https://climate.fisheries.org/world-climate-statement/). These societies, representing more than 80,000 scientists, produced this unprecedented plea to world leaders with a staggering amount of evidence showing the consequences of climate change. Scientists agree that increases in greenhouse gases are responsible for more extreme weather events such as droughts and flooding, which have harmed water supplies and water quality. Climate changes have been… Read More »Scientists Urge Action on Climate Change

Earlier this month, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, a financial regulatory body of the U.S. federal government, warned that climate change could impair the productivity of the U.S. economy and undermine employment. The stern CFTC warning was issued in a report entitled “Managing Climate Risk in the U.S. Financial System,” which was prepared by contributors who included representatives of industry, finance, agriculture, and government. After evaluating the effects of climate change on components of the economy, the report made 53 recommendations. These included incorporating climate… Read More »Carbon Fee Could Cut Emissions, Save Economy

Here are some things that have been happening on the climate front recently. Thanks go to Citizens’ Climate Lobby volunteer Ed Cullen for bringing many of these items to the group’s attention. TROUT UNLIMITEDEighty-nine percent of Trout Unlimited members acknowledge that climate change is happening, according to a survey by that organization. TU is an advocate for the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, which would use the market, not regulations, to reduce greenhouse gasses by 40 percent in 12 years. CLIMATE CHANGE AND FISHResearch… Read More »Climate Watch: From the effect on fish to carbon pricing initiatives, there’s a lot happening

We are faced with multiple crises. COVID-19 must be dealt with. The cimate crisis must also be dealt with now. There are 70 wildfires in dozens of states, a wind tornado in the Midwest and hurricanes are increasing in number and severity. There were recently two storms in Gulf at the same time, which has never happened before. These abnormal climate events are very costly in both lives and property. Colorado’s eastern plains have yielded economic benefits from the renewable energy industry. In 2010 1,253… Read More »Going Green Pays off in Many Ways

Recent events in Washington state highlight the challenges of mitigating the effects of climate change. The Army Corps of Engineers operates nine hydroelectric dams in Washington. The dams produce large, shallow reservoirs which soak up sunshine and can become lethally hot for salmon. Climate change contributes. To get federal help, Washington state notified the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1998 that river temperatures exceeded state water quality standards. EPA and Washington reached an agreement in 2000 that EPA would issue the needed specification for safe… Read More »Support Legislation to Curb Climate Change