In the closing of The Climate Book, youth climate leader Greta Thunberg writes, “Everyone is needed … no matter where you live” to respond to the climate challenge. She finishes by saying, “Simply: tell it like it is.” Here it is.
Twelve local governments in central Pennsylvania are nearing an exciting decision on solar energy. Four years ago, the Centre Region Council of Governments (COG), the municipalities making up the COG, multiple authorities including the State College Borough Water Authority, Centre County government and the State College Area School District decided to explore pooling our electricity into a secure, long-term, low-price electricity contract for solar power.
In the next couple months, we will have the chance to vote “yes.” It will be the right thing to do for the climate, for taxpayers, and for our kids. Our project will generate 29,000,000 kilowatt hours of carbon-free electricity per year, the equivalent of powering over 3,900 homes. The fixed price over the next 15 years will provide budgetary certainty, shielding us from price volatility.
Read the full piece at The Centre Daily Times.
I’ll add, this is a project our kids and citizens want. Polls show that Gen Z is concerned about climate change and that young people concerned about climate change are among the most engaged citizens in the country. According to a 2021 survey conducted by the Centre Region Planning Agency, over 75% of their parents and grandparents reported wanting our governments to adopt 100% renewable energy. We hear you.
Peter Walks for Democracy 
Hi, Peter – the piece you wrote in the newspaper was excellent. And the one question I have is, it sounds as though it was meant to sway public opinion, as though public opinion had some part in deciding whether we would go ahead with this proposal. Was that just a misimpression, and are the 12 entities involved still the decision-makers? I hope so! When we get together for coffee, we can talk about that then. Hope to see you soon, Joan “Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. Do justice now. Love mercy now. Walk humbly now. You are not obligated to complete the work but neither are you free to abandon it.” The Talmud
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