Does the snow love me? Does it not? Does it love me… In case you don’t know me, I’m hoping for all the snow love this weekend. Not just a measly few inches that make the roads sloppy (or the opposite… slick with ice) and grocery shopping a contact sport. (Related: why does everyone go for eggs, bread, and milk? Is everyone making french toast?) I’m down for as much snow as possible and also recognize that this is an unpopular opinion!
This week’s must read: For reliable energy, we have to start building (The Gazette)
“America became a strong and prosperous nation because it built things. We built farms, factories, power plants, transmission lines, and the infrastructure allowing communities to grow and families to thrive. Iowa has been a major part of that story,” writes Nick Boeyink of the Iowa Conservative Energy Forum. “Today, however, our permitting system has made it far too difficult to build even the most basic energy infrastructure needed to keep the lights on and the economy moving.”
While you’re stuck home in the storm, check out this entire op-ed.
The upcoming schedule of episodes for the EcoRight Speaks
Mark your calendars for our first episode of the new season, coming to your favorite podcast platform on February 3rd. We are kicking things off with author Bob Eccles, who recently published An American’s Guide to Climate Change. Pick yourself up a copy before the show or wait to see if you win one of three copies we will be giving away. Details on how to win will be provided in the episode!
We are following up the conversation with Bob Eccles with another EcoRight favorite: radical centrist Nick Huey. Look for his episode to drop on February 10th.
On February 17th, we will feature a new-to-the-show guest, Ross Matzkin-Bridger, Senior Advisor at the Nuclear Scaling Initiative (NSI). He will talk about the near-term challenges and future prospects of nuclear power.
We have a great season lined up, so be sure to subscribe so that you get alerted the moment a new episode is available.
Can’t miss TV
Do you remember the old days when you had to catch your favorite TV show at its original air time or forever hope that it will rerun someday? Well, that’s not really the case with this webinar as it will be recorded, but I know you won’t want to miss Bob “spilling the tea” with a little saucer rattling from me. Catch us on January 27th at 1:30pm ET/10:30am PT.
Whehter you’re team Earl Gray, English Breakfast, chai, or herbal, register here for our fun event.
Another must read: Show me the money
For years, I’ve been calling climate change an economic issue that deserves equal footing with the other economic issues we personally and as a country face. Check out Climate Change is Quietly Shrinking Salaries in American by About 12%, A New Study Finds.
“Most of those costs are not driven by changes in weather where you live but by how changes in weather everywhere else affect supply chains and the cost of products you buy from elsewhere in the US,” said Derek Lemoine, a professor of economics at the University of Arizona and the lead author of the report.
Also from the article: The researcher deliberately excluded financial loss caused by major natural disasters in his data, be it floods or storms. Even if people do not have huge monetary or infrastructural losses due to natural disasters, their finances are still compromised by changing weather; they just are not aware of it.
“Places are linked through trade, so temperatures in California or Iowa can influence income in Arizona,” Lemoine noted.
❄️🌨️❄️Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!❄️🌨️❄️
Flashback to the original snowmaggedon, 2007, I think?