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

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

Taxes & Economy

Santa and the Grinch visit Pennsylvania?s Energy Sector

  • Gordon Tomb
  • December 21, 2018

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 Sector

Taxes & Economy

Facts Refute Gov. Wolf’s Climate Change Concern

  • Gordon Tomb
  • December 17, 2018

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 Concern

Taxes & Economy

Will Carbon Taxes Bring Paris Protests to Pa?

  • Gordon Tomb
  • December 11, 2018

“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

Read More: Will Carbon Taxes Bring Paris Protests to Pa?

Regulation

Our Christmas Wish: A Solvent Pennsylvania

  • Gordon Tomb
  • December 4, 2018

“I’m dreaming of a solvent Penn’s Woods/Just like the one we used to know.” Lyrics not worthy of Bing Crosby, but still music to the ears of a…

Media

Read More: Our Christmas Wish: A Solvent Pennsylvania

Taxes & Economy

Natural Gas Outshines Solar, Blows Past Wind

  • Gordon Tomb
  • October 19, 2018

Natural gas is by far the best the most efficient way to produce electricity, according to a recent report by the Manhattan Institute. The report indicates that dollar-for-dollar,…

Media

Read More: Natural Gas Outshines Solar, Blows Past Wind

Regulation

Gov. Wolf’s Unfair Demands Will Hinder the Economy

  • Gordon Tomb
  • August 29, 2018

The Wolf administration is once again attempting to impose excessive costs on the gas industry—and consumers—by proposing triple-digit-percentage increases in fees for authorizing well development. Pennsylvania charges more for…

Media

Read More: Gov. Wolf’s Unfair Demands Will Hinder the Economy

Taxes & Economy

Dueling Energy Subsidies are Equally Bad

  • Gordon Tomb
  • June 19, 2018

  Shortly after Pennsylvania lawmakers suggested subsidies for nuclear power plants, the federal government launched a new effort to subsidize not only nuclear power but other forms of energy…

Media

Read More: Dueling Energy Subsidies are Equally Bad