Category: Commentary

Source: James Conca, Forbes, Nov 29, 2019 As I woke up to Thanksgiving yesterday, I realized we in the Pacific Northwest had been cyclone bombed for the holiday. A Bomb Cyclone is when the barometric pressure drops by at least 24 millibars in 24 hours. The winds were wicked last night and kept us awake […]

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Source: James Conca, Forbes, Nov 22, 2019 Last week, the International Atomic Energy Agency published their new report, Adapting the Energy Sector to Climate Change, that explores a range of climate impacts on the energy sector resulting from gradual climate change together with extreme weather events. The report also considers possible ways to counter them. The report considers the […]

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Source: James Conca, Forbes, Nov 25, 2019 Indeed it does. Contrary to claims by those who just don’t like nuclear, every time nuclear plants close, carbon emissions go up. Using opaque financial jargon, grandiose claims for renewables, and political spin, doesn’t change this. There a number of examples. The unnecessary closing of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power […]

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Source: James Conca, Forbes, Nov 22, 2019 Last week, the International Atomic Energy Agency published their new report, Adapting the Energy Sector to Climate Change, that explores a range of climate impacts on the energy sector resulting from gradual climate change together with extreme weather events. The report also considers possible ways to counter them. The report considers the […]

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Source: James Conca, Forbes, Nov 19, 2019 Just like essential nutrients are necessary for a healthy body, critical minerals are necessary for a healthy economy. And a healthy national security. And a healthy educational system. Basically all aspects of an overall healthy society in these modern times. The United States Geological Survey Report on a Critical […]

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Source: James Conca, Forbes, Oct. 31, 2019 By now, more Japanese have died from the closing of Japan’s nuclear power plants following the 2011 Tohoku quake than from the tsunami and the earthquake combined, which was about 20,000 people. Of course, no one has died from any radiation released from the reactor, and no one ever will. […]

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Source: James Conca, Forbes, Oct 29, 2019 Over 4 billion people live under conditions of severe water scarcity at least one month of the year. Over a billion people spend several hours a day searching for water, wasting precious time and putting them in frequent danger. Some of this scarcity has led to violence and conflict, especially in Africa, Southern […]

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Source: Todd Myers, Washington Policy Center, Nov 5. 2019 The Northwest is now in our seventh day with virtually no wind energy. Hydro power is making up for virtually all of the energy gap. During the last week, wind power supplied a maximum of 2 percent of energy on the BPA system. During a 26-hour […]

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Source: Jason A. Atkinson, Oregon Live, October 23, 2019 Atkinson, a former Oregon state legislator for 14 years, wrote and produced the film “A River Between Us” documenting the restoration of the Klamath River. He is a Rodel Fellow with the Aspen Institute. Today’s noisy partisan divide concerns me and makes the thought of meaningful […]

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Source: The Columbian, October 23, 2019 As dams along the Columbia and Snake rivers come under increasing scrutiny, it is essential to note the positive impact those dams have had on the Northwest. Inexpensive, reliable, clean, renewable electricity has been essential to growing the region’s economy for more than 70 years. The dams have provided […]

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