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

A Federal Power Grid Would be Everyone’s Worst Nightmare

  • Gordon Tomb
  • January 12, 2024

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

Read More: A Federal Power Grid Would be Everyone’s Worst Nightmare

Energy

Are ‘green’ agendas carrying governors to political cliffs?

  • Gordon Tomb
  • January 3, 2024

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

Read More: Are ‘green’ agendas carrying governors to political cliffs?

Energy

How PA Can Prevent Deadly Blackouts

  • Gordon Tomb
  • December 19, 2023

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

Read More: How PA Can Prevent Deadly Blackouts

Energy

Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) Mandates in Pennsylvania

  • Gordon Tomb
  • August 24, 2023

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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Energy

Governor Josh Shapiro’s Wrong Approach to Grid Reliability

  • Gordon Tomb
  • August 22, 2023

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

Read More: Governor Josh Shapiro’s Wrong Approach to Grid Reliability

Energy

Environmental Bootleggers and Baptists Fleece Consumers

  • Gordon Tomb
  • April 24, 2023

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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Energy

Save the Homer City power plant

  • Gordon Tomb
  • April 22, 2023

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

Read More: Save the Homer City power plant

Energy

The Dangers of Environmental, Social, and Governance Mandates

  • Gordon Tomb
  • October 27, 2022

*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 Mandates

Energy

Latest RGGI Lawsuit Highlights Increases in Electricity Prices

  • Gordon Tomb
  • October 21, 2022

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 Prices

Education

How innovative education can help Pennsylvania’s economy

  • Gordon Tomb
  • July 20, 2022

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 economy

Prosperity

Disconnected politicians lose those who ‘vote their jobs’

  • Gordon Tomb
  • May 3, 2022

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

Read More: Disconnected politicians lose those who ‘vote their jobs’

Energy

Wolf’s RGGI fixation will slow Pennsylvania’s recovery

  • Gordon Tomb
  • February 17, 2022

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 recovery

Taxes & Economy

Those are Drilling Rigs, Not Money Trees

  • Gordon Tomb
  • July 5, 2019

“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 Trees

Energy

Climate Change

  • Gordon Tomb
  • May 30, 2019

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

Read More: Climate Change

Taxes & Economy

Nuclear Subsidies: Grabbing Defeat from the Jaws of Victory

  • Gordon Tomb
  • April 23, 2019

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 Victory

Taxes & Economy

First Do No Harm to Pa.’s Energy Sector

  • Gordon Tomb
  • March 7, 2019

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 Sector