Sustainability
Nuclear abolition, climate change, environmental degradation, nature, peace and justice.
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Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds created a 14-member nuclear energy task force in January by executive order. They finished their initial work this week and now its recommendations will go to the governor, state lawmakers, and state agencies. In her Jan. 5, 2026 press release, Reynolds said, “With our strong foundation in manufacturing and energy innovation,… Read more
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The following was posted on Bleeding Heartland as part of their “Wildflower Wednesday” series. I re-wrote an earlier post, adding new content. I appreciate Laura Belin making me part of that series. Is reed canary grass an invasive species? The photo above suggests that it is. Thriving along the lake shore, this grass formed a… Read more
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Friday after overnight and early morning rainfall I came across this common snapping turtle laying eggs next to the state park trail. This location was a few yards from the lake where the turtle spends most of its life. Because of all the foot and bicycle traffic, it is not the safest place for a… Read more
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I wrote at length in 2020 about Pattison Sand wanting to mine the Jordan Aquifer and ship the water out west. They persist in needing water, and Iowa DNR sent me this email about their current permit request on Tuesday. You are receiving this email because you previously expressed interest in or commented on Pattison… Read more
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Supporting the environment has changed since the first Earth Day. Then the president was aware of public support for protecting the environment and took concrete action. Now, the president couldn’t give two hoots in a holler about it, as evidenced by his support for copper mining in the Boundary Waters. Times have changed, even as… Read more
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A joke is circulating on the internet that SMR stands for Spending Money Recklessly. It isn’t funny because it is true, even if big money investors have a plan to recoup their investment in Small Modular Reactors with interest. Regular folks like me don’t want new nuclear power when renewable projects that include solar and… Read more
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I was taken aback by the administration’s decision to dismantle the U.S. Forest Service. Jim Pattiz outlined what happened in his substack post, “Trump Administration Orders Dismantling of the U.S. Forest Service.” What they are doing is bad. While the news broke suddenly, and agreements were signed quickly, the future of roughly 193 million acres… Read more
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For Immediate Release: April 7, 2026 (Washington, D.C.) — President Donald Trump’s April 7 threat that he might escalate U.S. attacks on Iran so that “a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again,” should profoundly alarm every U.S. and global citizen. Whether Trump is threatening a massive conventional bombing campaign or… Read more
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If Iowa is a net exporter of electricity, why the push for new nuclear reactors? I get it. Duane Arnold Energy Center has infrastructure to add/renew generating capacity: connections to the electrical grid, access to water for cooling, and transportation in and out. Compared to the new Vogtle nuclear power plant in Georgia, re-starting DAEC… Read more
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Pelicans have been on the lake for a few weeks now. For the moment, they gather overnight on the east end, a loose white raft in the shallows, then lift off just before dawn to find better fishing. In time, they will move on, continuing north. It is another sign that, despite the odd turns… Read more
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