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
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
Read More: The Dangers of Environmental, Social, and Governance MandatesEnergy
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
Read More: Latest RGGI Lawsuit Highlights Increases in Electricity PricesEducation
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
Read More: Wolf’s RGGI fixation will slow Pennsylvania’s recoveryProsperity
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 SubsidiesTaxes & Economy
Those are Drilling Rigs, Not Money Trees
“Money doesn’t grow on trees,” my mother regularly declaimed in her impromptu lessons on financial literacy. Too bad she’s not with us to explain this to Governor Wolf: neither the Marcellus…
Media
Read More: Those are Drilling Rigs, Not Money TreesEnergy
Climate Change
For decades state government has imposed subsidies, increased regulation and raised energy costs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These efforts have largely failed to make an impact. On the other…
Memo
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Nuclear Subsidies: Grabbing Defeat from the Jaws of Victory
Sales pitches often downplay the cost of the product, so smart buyers have to look beyond the advertised price. For instance, when you purchase a home, you consider the sales…
Media
Read More: Nuclear Subsidies: Grabbing Defeat from the Jaws of VictoryTaxes & Economy
First Do No Harm to Pa.’s Energy Sector
Pennsylvania’s energy industry is growing, but state government intervention through new taxes or special interest bailouts would threaten the positive trends of job growth and low energy prices. Pennsylvania ranked…
Media
Read More: First Do No Harm to Pa.’s Energy SectorTaxes & Economy
Santa and the Grinch visit Pennsylvania?s Energy Sector
The last two years brought renewed investment in Pennsylvania’s energy industry, but these shiny gifts remain threatened by grinchy taxes, fees, and regulations. Among the gifts are the…
Media
Read More: Santa and the Grinch visit Pennsylvania?s Energy SectorTaxes & Economy
Facts Refute Gov. Wolf’s Climate Change Concern
Editor's Note: A version of this blog was also published in the Daily Caller and appeared at NaturalGasNow.org. When Gov. Wolf uses the past…
Media
Read More: Facts Refute Gov. Wolf’s Climate Change ConcernTaxes & Economy
Will Carbon Taxes Bring Paris Protests to Pa?
“Nothing reveals the disconnect between ordinary voters and an aloof political class more than carbon taxation,” write the editors of the Wall Street Journal. As French “yellow vest”…
Media
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