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.
Taxes & Economy
Press Pause on Clean Power Plan
In a historic move, the US Supreme Court stayed the EPA's Clean Power Plan, otherwise known as Obama's energy tax or stealth cap and trade. The court’s actions halt implementation…
Media
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Pennsylvanians Prosper as New Yorkers Pine
They are similar in size, resources and population, but the past few years have brought prosperity to Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania and stagnation to Delaware County, New York. The big difference?…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvanians Prosper as New Yorkers PineRegulation
The EPA’s Plan Will Hike Your Electricity Bill
A new analysis from NERA Economic Consulting projects Pennsylvania electricity bills will increase between 10 and 19 percent from 2022 to 2033…
Media
Read More: The EPA’s Plan Will Hike Your Electricity BillRegulation
The Mirage of Green Jobs
Promoters of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s carbon-emission regulation attempt to playdown the jobs it would kill with promises of “green jobs”. Yet these positions pay less and are largely…
Media
Read More: The Mirage of Green JobsRegulation
Could Coal’s Savior be PA’s Legislature?
180 workers in CONSOL Energy’s coal division recently lost their jobs. Now, Pennsylvania’s legislature may be the only thing standing between the Obama administration and complete destruction of the…
Media
Read More: Could Coal’s Savior be PA’s Legislature?Taxes & Economy
A Cooked Goose Lays No Golden Eggs
Gov. Wolf continues to promote a severance tax on natural gas, even as Pennsylvania energy companies report financial losses and job reductions. This week, Consol Energy projected…
Media
Read More: A Cooked Goose Lays No Golden EggsEnergy
Gas Tax Critics Champion, not Oppose, Progress
Recently, Gov. Tom Wolf sent a letter to 17 business advocacy groups opposing his proposed severance tax on natural gas, accusing them of siding “with corporate special interests who simply…
Commentary
Read More: Gas Tax Critics Champion, not Oppose, ProgressState Budget
Natural Gas Severance Tax: An Economy Killer
From labor unions to local chambers of commerce, community leaders are expressing a lot of anxiety over Governor Wolf’s natural gas severance tax proposal. The proposed tax “is a Wyoming…
Media
Read More: Natural Gas Severance Tax: An Economy KillerEducation
Could Schools Be Harmed by a Severance Tax?
As odd as it might sound, some rural schools could actually be harmed by Gov. Wolf’s efforts to increase education funding by imposing a severance tax on natural gas.
Media
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Families Benefit from Natural Gas Without Tax
Of the many tax hikes in Gov. Wolf’s budget proposal, the natural gas severance tax on the surface seems less damaging to Pennsylvania families. But a severance tax could hit…
Media
Read More: Families Benefit from Natural Gas Without TaxTaxes & Economy
Talk of Severance Tax Reduces Drilling
What a shock! A gas exploration company says it is reevaluating plans to drill for natural gas in Southwestern Pennsylvania because of Gov. Wolf’s proposed severance tax, reports…
Media
Read More: Talk of Severance Tax Reduces DrillingTaxes & Economy
Marcellus Shale Successes Continue
The stories continue: more jobs, increased tax revenue and cheap energy, all from the free-market production of Marcellus Shale gas. Take last week’s report from the Central Pennsylvania…
Media
Read More: Marcellus Shale Successes ContinueRegulation
EPA Rule Would Increase PA Energy Bills by $1,000
The war on coal will be a catastrophe for consumers, according to a new analysis of energy prices under new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations. According to…
Media
Read More: EPA Rule Would Increase PA Energy Bills by $1,000Energy
Green Jobs Threatened by EPA Regs
John Oelbracht has managed the Westwood Generation power plant in Schuylkill County for 10 years. It’s more than a job to him—it’s an undertaking to clean up the environment while…
Commentary
Read More: Green Jobs Threatened by EPA RegsTaxes & Economy
New Tax Would Add to Challenges of Gas Industry
Armstrong County farmer Randy Walker worries about the effect of a natural gas severance tax on his royalties and the job market. Mr. Walker’s concerns are well founded. The natural gas…
Commentary
Read More: New Tax Would Add to Challenges of Gas IndustryPublic Union Democracy
Employees Lose Under PA’s Public Pension Systems
Most workers are shortchanged by Pennsylvania’s public employee pension programs, according to two recent studies. The Urban Institute gives Pennsylvania’s State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS) an “F”…
Media
Read More: Employees Lose Under PA’s Public Pension SystemsTaxes & Economy
Severance Tax Benefits the Powerful at Citizens’ Expense
Washington County farmer Shawn Georgetti was living paycheck to paycheck before the Marcellus Shale boom. Thanks to a natural gas lease, he’s finally been able to upgrade his 30-year-old equipment.
Commentary
Read More: Severance Tax Benefits the Powerful at Citizens’ ExpenseTaxes & Economy
Warning to PA: Alternative Energy Subsidies Damage Europe
State legislators who advocate for an expansion of government incentives for alternative energy sources need to pay attention to the events happening across the pond where the European Commission is…
Media
Read More: Warning to PA: Alternative Energy Subsidies Damage EuropeTaxes & Economy
EPA Regulations Threaten Pennsylvania Jobs
The prospects for Pennsylvania coal industry have gotten so bad that Tom Crooks has contemplated moving his company from the state to find greener pastures Crooks is vice…
Media
Read More: EPA Regulations Threaten Pennsylvania JobsRegulation
Let Markets Decide Natural Gas Role
Could natural gas replace gasoline or diesel for Pennsylvania drivers? With natural gas certain to become even more plentiful, many people are asking whether that could someday be…
Media
Read More: Let Markets Decide Natural Gas RoleTaxes & Economy
Fracking Helps Poor More than Government Programs
The natural gas boom spawned by free enterprise and new technology is doing more to help the poor than LIHEAP, a decades-old welfare program, according to the Wall…
Media
Read More: Fracking Helps Poor More than Government Programs