Category: Climate Change

Don’t insult religion, experience, and science at the same time.

March 13, 2025

Earlier this week, new Environmental Destruction Agency Administrator, Lee Zeldin, said “We are driving a dagger through the heart of climate-change religion and ushering in America’s Golden Age.” Using the word “religion” as an insult is self-defeating. Here’s why. He’s implying that religions are disconnected from reality. The natural conclusion of this is that religions … More Don’t insult religion, experience, and science at the same time.

Ten days focused on people, land, & climate in Aotearoa

February 26, 2025

Over the last ten days, I’ve been in Aotearoa, New Zealand as part of a climate research, education, and capacity-building team from Penn State. It has been a joy to be here a second time and learn more about forests, fire, carbon, and biodiversity as well as Māori culture and practices, national and local government, … More Ten days focused on people, land, & climate in Aotearoa

Why I am not surprised by Trump’s attacks on science, climate, education, & human health.

February 7, 2025

The Trump administration’s attacks on climate, on science, education, and on human health was completely predictable. Its roots are in the confluence and cooperation of big religion and big oil. These two factions in American life have been in a tacit alliance that goes back decades. As I’ve written in previous posts, it became clear … More Why I am not surprised by Trump’s attacks on science, climate, education, & human health.

Ten Centre County governmental entities have signed on to a historic solar agreement

February 1, 2025

From PennEnvironment: On Monday, January 27, ten governmental entities in Centre County have officially entered into a 15-year contract to supply their operations with renewable energy from a nearby solar project. It is believed that this cooperative solar purchase agreement is the first of its kind in Pennsylvania.  “The ten members of the Centre County … More Ten Centre County governmental entities have signed on to a historic solar agreement

As Gandalf said, “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

January 21, 2025

Yesterday was Martin Luther King, Jr. Day for 2025 and Inauguration Day for Donald Trump for the second time. I accept these facts, their juxtaposition and paradox. All I know is that I am in control of myself, that I am called to something greater than myself, and that the climate action and ecological citizenship … More As Gandalf said, “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

Early lessons from the Centre County solar power purchase agreement

December 26, 2024

I want the lessons of the Centre County solar power purchase agreement (SPPA) working group (WG) to be as accessible as possible. As readers know, 10 of central Pennsylvania’s local governments are finalizing the largest-by-member SPPA in the Commonwealth and maybe the country. This entry is my first deliberate crack at it. Here, I will use the World … More Early lessons from the Centre County solar power purchase agreement

State and local governments will persist in climate action because it works.

December 21, 2024

State and local governments will persist in climate action. That’s the conclusion of a recent piece in Grist. We have virtual certainty the incoming Trump administration will withdraw from the Paris Agreement, leading to widespread worry about other nations’ commitments to reduce emissions and achieve the 1.5° or 2° C temperature goals. But there are lots of … More State and local governments will persist in climate action because it works.

Some lessons from the PPA: Openness. Honesty. Skepticism. Trust. Consistency.

December 19, 2024

In the last week, we’ve had more wins for the power purchase agreement. Last Tuesday, the Centre County Commissioners voted 3-0 to enter. On Monday, the State College Borough voted 6-1 to join. Tonight, Last night, Patton Township’s Board voted 5-0. They join the State College Area School District and Harris Township. All told, there are about … More Some lessons from the PPA: Openness. Honesty. Skepticism. Trust. Consistency.

Three sets of questions about the solar PPA

December 19, 2024

Taking a moment here to think about the solar power purchase agreement today from the point of view of the “mindful ecological citizen.”  I want to understand how our democratic system allowed it to take shape. It would be (maybe will be) fascinating to retrospectively examine how the working group and project management team moved … More Three sets of questions about the solar PPA

Kitzmiller v. Dover: A Trial Reveals a Plan to Transform American Life

November 28, 2024

This entry begins my journey back through what’s motivated me to explore “The Mindful Ecological Citizen.” In 2004, Tammy Kitzmiller and 10 other parents filed a lawsuit against the Dover School District for passing an “intelligent design” policy that called the Theory of Evolution into question. Covering the story for a small paper, I came … More Kitzmiller v. Dover: A Trial Reveals a Plan to Transform American Life