Faithful readers know I am gravely concerned about the environment and this summer in Colorado – my home – has made that all too important as I awoke Monday to a blood red sun made so by the 13 active wildfires in Colorado covering roughly 220,924 acres, 21 active fires in Wyoming, 13 in Utah, and 28 in New Mexico. Then add the temperatures this year with 2026 tracking well above normal for 90-degree days — at 29 days by mid-July versus an average of 44 for the entire year and August is generally the warmest month of the year.
Some might say this is bad science and it’s just a cycle – the data say otherwise. And while I am an economist vs. meteorologist, the facts are clear. Global average temperatures have risen steadily since the 1950s and markedly in the past 50 years. And we know what the culprit is: Carbon
Carbon from coal heating and power, the oil we burn every day along with natural gas combined with the cement we make and all the other industries we need and use daily.
And no, I’m not here to preach – I drive a car, (a hybrid), I burn carbon based fuels and I do walk on cement. But golly, we gotta do something ‘cuz inaction will result in “something” regardless if you vote BLUE or RED.
You also know that while this stuff is important to me, I also believe that everything – literally EVERY THING – begins with money and you can save money with a solar panel on your roof or balcony solar in your apartment; a battery in your garage or kitchen cupboard; a heat pump helping your furnace and AC be more efficient; recycling your paper trash; and, simple things that cost you next to nothing and will save you money. All of which you can buy from Mr. Bezos if you’re so inclined.
What’s the alternative? Well, we could suffer the fate of Arthur Dent and make way for an interstellar by-pass as we quaff a pan-galactic gargle blaster.