This weekend I was supposed to be in Florida, bidding a final farewell to my childhood friend who passed away in November. A small gathering of us planned a sunset beach excursion, convening at one of her favorite places. There were lots of plans… combing the beach for seashells (her favorite activity) and ocean-themed friend tattoos.
But alas, the dang respiratory virus going around had other plans for me that do no include getting on a plane or really leaving my bed or couch. As such, this is going to be a shorter newsletter than usual. I’ll be back in full Chelsea form next week.
How can you engage in your community’s energy conservations? This week’s guest has advice.
Reverend Doctor Jessica Moerman is a climate and environmental scientist, pastor, educator, and advocate. She serves as the President and CEO of the Evangelical Environmental Network and is a Board Member of the National Association of Evangelicals.
In case she’s new to you, Jessica received her Ph.D. in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences from the Georgia Institute of Technology and has held research positions at John Hopkins University, University of Michigan, and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, where she researched how climate has changed throughout Earth’s history. Prior to joining EEN, Jessica was a AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow at the U.S. Department of Energy.
Jessica regularly speaks—and quite passionately so–on issues related to climate change, pollution, children’s health, the clean energy transition, environmental stewardship, and the intersection of science and faith. Lately she’s added issues around affordability and how communities can coalese to make a difference. She’s also one of the subjects of the film The Conservatives, which made its global premier the day before we released this episode. Personally speaking, I was honored to moderate a panel after the film, a feature of the DC Environmental Film Festival, on which Jessica sat. It was clear that the audience resonated with her message that you don’t have to choose between science and faith. And the extent to which her values underpin her actions is so apparent when you talk to and with her. And hopefully when you listen to her in our next segment.
Also featured in this episode, a few clips from a recent event in Indiana that Bob attended and which focused on the intersection between faith and stewardship. [Thanks to Angela for recording this event so those of us who couldn’t be in Indiana could listen!]
Coming up next week, my delightful conversation with Canadian climate scientist Norm Leo, whose book, LOOK AT IT THIS WAY: Climate Solutions Will Benefit Your Health and Wealth, is a reversible read that quite literally flips the climate narrative.
This week’s must read: The Trump administration could make a bold energy move before the mideterms
Our friend, past podcast guest, and sustainability thought leader Shannon Fitzgerald O’Shea recently wrote this post for the substack of another past podcast guest, Bob Eccles.
“Re-incentivizing solar expansion, especially at this moment, could also bring much-needed economic relief to Americans who, every day, are worried about whether they can pay their electricity bill this month or buy groceries. In a country blessed with such abundance as the United States, this should not be a choice that any American family has to make,” she writes. “And it is simply a matter of national security – where expanding domestic energy production, lowering electricity costs and strengthening U.S. competitiveness on AI are top of mind for policymakers and voters alike heading into a highly competitive midterm election cycle.”
Check out this recording of Shannon’s most excellent, simple definition of sustainability.
Short but sweet this week so I can crawl back into bed. Hug those who are dear to you.