Month: October 2024

We fight for freedom. The Christo-fascists want to steal it.

October 27, 2024

My community is ground zero in the fight for America’s future. We affectionately call our home “Happy Valley.” It surrounds Penn State University (where I work). A blue dot in the middle of red counties, we believe in the promise of a democratic republic rooted in freedom, individual dignity, environmental integrity, innovation, and equal opportunity. … More We fight for freedom. The Christo-fascists want to steal it.

A call from an intern reminds me that I’ve been teaching for more than 20 years.

October 26, 2024

On Thursday, my first intern, Rick, called me. It was wonderful. I was in my second semester back at Penn State, co-teaching Foundations of Leadership in Sustainability. Rick was an Engineering student who was eager to be more than engineer by challenging himself with ethics and education. We did this by diving into the ethics … More A call from an intern reminds me that I’ve been teaching for more than 20 years.

An inspiration — or a cautionary tale? Definitely an inspiration.

October 24, 2024

Today, Spotlight PA ran an excellent story on how “local governments can struggle to work together in Pennsylvania even when they have a common and seemingly mundane goal like saving money on electric bills.” I’ve written about this project here pretty extensively. In the next month, ten local governments will vote to adopt affordable, carbon-free, Pennsylvania-supplied … More An inspiration — or a cautionary tale? Definitely an inspiration.

The great warning: Those closest to Trump are not voting for him.

October 23, 2024

We are now under two weeks until Election Day 2024. With Donald Trump seeking office a second time, citizens should understand that Trump’s own cabinet and a swath of staunch Republicans oppose him. For those RepublIcans who revere the Constitution and believe in the rule of law–folks who supported Nikki Haley but worry about Kamala … More The great warning: Those closest to Trump are not voting for him.

A power purchase agreement or something else?

October 20, 2024

As readers of this blog know, ten of Centre County’s local governments will soon vote to adopt affordable, carbon-free, Pennsylvania-supplied solar power. Brought together in 2019 as a special working group, we set our sights on two primary goals: being more responsible as fiduciaries with our energy dollars and playing a positive role in reducing greenhouse … More A power purchase agreement or something else?

Make action on climate change part of everyday life. Make it part of what schools do.

October 15, 2024

“When more schools adopt solar, it becomes mainstream and no longer viewed as “something revolutionary or confrontational.” This is what I told Cipher News, an outlet that “covers the technological innovations we need to combat climate change and transform our global energy systems.” In our work to act on climate change, its drivers and impacts … More Make action on climate change part of everyday life. Make it part of what schools do.

Don’t Be Distracted by ‘Inactivists.’ Solar Is the Present and Future

October 14, 2024

Today, I have an opinion piece, “Don’t Be Distracted by ‘Inactivists.’ Solar Is the Present and Future,” published on StateCollege.com. It is a response to Josh Portney’s misguided and ill-informed opinion piece on the regional solar power purchase agreement (SPPA). While Portney presents himself as a sleuth and advocate for the truth proves he has a … More Don’t Be Distracted by ‘Inactivists.’ Solar Is the Present and Future

“I support action on climate change, but …” We know what that means.

October 11, 2024

Having read Jacob Michael’s article in the Sept. 29 issue of The Centre Daily Times on the Solar Power Purchase Agreement (SPPA), former State College Borough Council member Jesse Barlow and I wanted to add some clarifying details. We felt this was important given that we have both been involved with the project since its … More “I support action on climate change, but …” We know what that means.

Local Climate Action Program wins national recognition and we are so grateful.

October 11, 2024

On Thursday, the Local Climate Action Program was awarded the Ryan Moser Reilly Award from the Engagement Scholarship Consortium. The Award “recognizes a campus or an entity on campuses (e.g. college, department, school, unit, program) that has made a significant contribution to transforming institutional culture that promotes community-engaged scholarship…[lifting up] institutions or units within that … More Local Climate Action Program wins national recognition and we are so grateful.