Gordon Tomb
Senior Fellow
Gordon Tomb is a Senior Fellow with the Commonwealth Foundation.
Gordon is senior advisor for the CO2 Coalition in Arlington, Virginia, and the primary editor of the best-selling book Inconvenient Facts: The Science That Al Gore Doesn’t Want You to Know.
As an energy writer and consultant, his clients have included the natural gas and nuclear power industries and the operator of the nation’s largest high-voltage transmission system.
Gordon has spoken on behalf of the International Atomic Energy Agency on lessons of the Fukushima and Three Mile Island nuclear accidents and is a winner of the Cicero Speechwriting Awards.
As an executive in the electric utility and nuclear power industries, Gordon led communications teams in the recovery from the TMI accident, the development of an electric transmission project, and the reorganization of a FORTUNE 500 company. He has worked as a newspaper reporter and columnist and as a director with an international management consulting firm.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and attended Grove City College.
Energy
Regulations subvert ‘environmental justice’
Originally published at the Williamsport Sun-Gazette Thirty years ago, more than 800 waste coal piles marred the Pennsylvania landscape, poisoning streams and emitting gaseous odors, including the rotten-egg smell…
Media Hit
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Pennsylvania’s energy future is alarming — and the governor isn’t helping
Originally published at Broad + Liberty Things are heating up in Pennsylvania, especially for our electrical grid. The Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland Interconnection (PJM), the grid manager for the commonwealth plus…
Media Hit
Read More: Pennsylvania’s energy future is alarming — and the governor isn’t helpingEnergy
Shapiro Energy Policy Is a Formula for Expensive Electricity
Originally published at Delaware Valley Journal Pennsylvania voters are increasingly concerned about rising energy costs. According to recent polling, 80 percent of Pennsylvanians say their utility bills have climbed…
Media Hit
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Shapiro’s Senseless Expansion of Alternative Energy
Originally published at Delaware Valley Journal In 2004, Pennsylvania implemented one of the most aggressive mandates to adopt wind and solar energy. At the time, less than 1 percent…
Media Hit
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A Federal Power Grid Would be Everyone’s Worst Nightmare
Originally published at the Delaware Valley Journal When a cold snap in December 2022 caused widespread power outages, central planners eagerly called upon the federal government to play a…
Media Hit
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Are ‘green’ agendas carrying governors to political cliffs?
Originally published at Broad + Liberty Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon are riding the same “green energy” horse, trotting into the sunset — or toward…
Media Hit
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How PA Can Prevent Deadly Blackouts
Originally published in the Delaware Valley Journal Having heard witnesses say America’s largest power grid remains unreliable nearly a year after a close call with blackouts last Christmas, Pennsylvania…
Media Hit
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Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) Mandates in Pennsylvania
Key Points Studies show adopting Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) criteria is not associated with better labor or environmental regulatory compliance. Emerging studies show ESG criteria are associated with lower…
Backgrounder
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Governor Josh Shapiro’s Wrong Approach to Grid Reliability
Originally published at RealClearEnergy Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has asked regional power grid operators to enhance the electricity system’s dependability—and he’s got ideas about how to do it. But his…
Media Hit
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Environmental Bootleggers and Baptists Fleece Consumers
Originally published at RealClearEnergy The “Bootleggers and Baptists” of Pennsylvania’s energy markets cost consumers and taxpayers billions while undermining the state’s economy and power grid. Bruce Yandle, an economist, …
Commentary
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Save the Homer City power plant
Originally published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette During his campaign, Gov. Josh Shapiro expressed concern over a new carbon tax initiated by his predecessor, Tom Wolf, noting the impact on…
Commentary
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In Pennsylvania, Will Josh Shapiro Unlock Decades of Affordable Energy?
Originally published at RealClearMarkets With Democrat Josh Shapiro as a newly inaugurated governor and a new legislative body, Pennsylvania will either shine as an energy superstar or continue down…
Media Hit
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The Dangers of Environmental, Social, and Governance Mandates
*This testimony was requested by the House Commerce Committee for a hearing that did not occur.* Chairman Roae, Chairman Galloway and members of the House Commerce Committee, thank you for…
Testimony
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Latest RGGI Lawsuit Highlights Increases in Electricity Prices
Originally published in the Delaware Valley Journal Already struggling to cope with higher energy bills, Pennsylvanians are now experiencing double-digit rate hikes this fall. In September, some suppliers increased…
Media Hit
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How innovative education can help Pennsylvania’s economy
Originally published in the Bucks County Courier Times Over two years after Gov. Tom Wolf’s shutdown of all “non-life-sustaining business,” Pennsylvania’s economy still struggles to recover. Pennsylvania has …
Media Hit
Read More: How innovative education can help Pennsylvania’s economyProsperity
Disconnected politicians lose those who ‘vote their jobs’
Originally published at Pittsburg Tribune-Review After a protracted battle with lawmakers, Gov. Tom Wolf’s unilateral push to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) now moves forward. At risk…
Media Hit
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Wolf’s RGGI fixation will slow Pennsylvania’s recovery
Originally published at City & State Gov. Tom Wolf’s timing for imposing a new energy tax could hardly be worse. Pennsylvania’s economy is trying to recover from the pandemic’s…
Media Hit
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Op-Ed: Pennsylvania Power Plant Closures Would Cause Real Harm for Illusory Environmental Gains
Originally published at The Daily Signal Visible from western Pennsylvania’s Allegheny Mountain ridges are coal-fired power plant— and their plumes of water vapor—that have been integral to much of…
Media Hit
Read More: Op-Ed: Pennsylvania Power Plant Closures Would Cause Real Harm for Illusory Environmental Gains
Op-Ed: East Coast’s Remaining Refineries’ Daunting Domestic Threat
Originally published at Real Clear Energy The modernization of the Trainer Refinery south of Philadelphia is initially obscured by aged brick buildings and hulking equipment. With closer examination, however,…
Media
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Op-Ed: The natural gas severance tax is not a good idea
If Pennsylvania government wants more revenue, it should drop continual attempts to increase taxes and regulations and instead nurture widespread prosperity.
Commentary
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Pa. Can Energize Its Energy Sector by Cutting Red Tape—Not with Industry Subsidies
This week the state legislature passed House Bill 732. The bill—designed to exempt volunteer service providers from a 1 percent realty transfer tax— now offers tax credits to the…
Memo
Read More: Pa. Can Energize Its Energy Sector by Cutting Red Tape—Not with Industry Subsidies