Get Energy Smart! NOW!

Yesterday, Ralph Northam released a new advertisement in the Virginia governor’s race simply entitled Environment. The advertisement opens: Protecting our environment is one of the most important things we can do for our kids. And as a doctor, I trust the science on climate change. While perhaps tired of “doctor” as seemingly lead for everything […]

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The Trump Administration’s decision to undermine America’s economy and future prospects by its announced intent to reverse the Clean Power Plan and expand its denial of that Chinese Hoax, climate change made headlines and created an imperative for serious news coverage.  Last evening, the PBS News Hour — often the gold standard when it comes […]

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The U.S. military is designed to operate amid the worst disaster(s) imaginable: modern warfare of all types. The vast military-industrial machine supports this — providing multiple options of weapons (that creates disaster?) to housing for difficult environments (tents) to mobile power generation (diesel generators, solar panels, …) to communications systems to water purification to .. […]

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As a rare diversion from ‘energy’ focus, here is a story that should bring a smile to anyone concerned about science, science education (STEM), empowering women in science, entomology, how social-networking is changing the world, and, well, good human-interest stories.  In other words, well, likely most of us. Short and sweet: an 8-year old girl […]

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Writ large, there is relatively small overlap between “budget hawks” and “climate hawks”.  Yet, as highlighted in a just released Oil Change International (OCI) report, there is reason for the two to find common ground (beyond a carbon fee/tax). OCI identified $20B in Subsidies … where the government gives financial incentives to artificially lower the […]

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Since diving into the deep end when it comes to energy issues, almost every day sees new fascinating concepts, approaches, and technologies. Fascinating … exciting … even hope inspiring at times. And, as well, as the passion builds, so many of these are truly Energy COOL. Geothermal heating and cooling has long interested me. Seriously energy […]

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Imagine what America discourse might look like if five states faced a climate catastrophe with a projection for weeks — even months — without electricity. What would their Senators and Representatives be doing? Would this be top of the news cycle? Would cable news and newspapers filled with stories showing elderly sitting the dark; discussing […]

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A positive vision for the future is too rarely part of America’s political conversation at the moment. Today, Minnesota’s Rebecca Otto put out a serious marker to change that.  Otto’s Minnesota Powered Plan targets leveraging Minnesota’s envious position as a manufacturing state with excellent wind and (yes) solar resources to transform the state into a clean energy […]

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One of privileges of our internet world is the ability to interact with and develop relationships with people all over the globe without ever having the opportunity to meet face to face. (Yes, it was possible in snail mail days but, well, so much harder even as a ‘pen pals’.) One of the privileges of […]

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The damage reports are coming in from Caribbean islands and the warnings are mounting for the Continental United States: Hurricane Irma could drive up the entire Atlantic Coast of Florida, a category 5 hurricane strike on Miami and the homes/work places of millions of American citizens.  Prior to the first rain drops hitting Miami, people […]

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