“Hey Cosmo,” Penny called. “Take a look at this.”  Cos Cutter reluctantly got up from his desk where he’d been furiously crunching numbers.  He and Penny Pincher are part of the “waste elimination” team.  They’re charged with finding ways to save taxpayer money.
            “What cha got?” Cos asked.
          “I think I’ve found something,” Penny replied cautiously.  “If I’m right, this huge!”  On Penny’s screen was a graph depicting global temperatures from 1980 through 2025.  “See how there’s been a steady step-by-step rise in temps?  Now watch this.”  Then she pulled up another graph. This one depicted the number of “billion-dollar” (or more!) severe weather disasters in the U.S. during those same years.  She displayed the two graphs side by side on her screen.
            “Yeah… so it’s getting hotter,” Cos remarked. “What’s that got to do with saving money?  I gotta get back to my desk.” 
           “Wait! Watch this.”  Penny pleaded as she overlaid the temperature-rise graph on top of the disaster-cost graph. Cosmo starred wide-eyed and smacked his forehead. “Oh my God!” Cos exclaimed. “I see what you mean. The two graphs fit more or less perfectly on top of one another.  As the temperatures step higher and higher so do the financial costs of extreme weather disasters. How could we have missed this?  So…if we slowed the temperature rise, we would also slow the rise in disaster costs!”
           When Cos and Penny dug further, they discovered that since 1980, the U.S. has had 426 billion-dollar disasters, with a total cost exceeding $3.1 trillion.  In 2025 alone - the 3rd hottest year on record - there were 23 such events costing a total of $115 billion in damages.  Year after year a growing number of people, homes, and businesses are being harmed.
            “Gosh!  What are we doing to ourselves?” Penny groaned. “While we bust our behinds looking for ways to cut costs, our administration is promoting pollution-producing, greenhouse-gas-emitting fuels that heat up the atmosphere.  At the same time, it’s pulling support for clean energy expansion.” 
            Armed with this new revelation, patriotic Penny and conscientious Cosmo resolved to visit Congress.  “Don’t you see, Congresswoman, this isn’t political.  It’s simply a matter of reducing the misery and financial losses from these disasters. With better policies we’d also be protecting the only home we’ll ever know.  Because ya know, there’s no ‘Planet B’. We’re all forever… Earthbound.”

            Swish!  The ball slipped smoothly through the net.  “Ha! Match that if you can,” Minnie challenged.  Dot dribbled to a spot behind the 3-point line then arced a…swish!  “Tied ya!” she crowed.
            Minnie Pointer and Dot Jurr have been best buddies since they were barely old enough to pick up a basketball.  Their family farms are on opposite sides of the township-dividing road, so they attend neighboring small-town schools.  These two talented athletes are teammates on the co-joined cross-country and track teams.  But when it comes to basketball, they’re fierce rivals.
            Off the court, both girls are active with their respective school environmental clubs.  One night after practice Dot hurried over to Minnie’s to share some exciting news. “Yeah, the superintendent even came to our environmental ed. class to tell us he’s all in favor of the project.  School board members like it too!  Now we just gotta work on raising the money.”
            Dot explained that her school district is seriously considering the addition of a small pilot/demonstration solar array on the high school.  As electricity rates continue to soar, scores of Wisconsin schools already use solar to significantly reduce energy costs.  And right now is a terrific time to launch a 3-point pilot project.

• Economical – The federal “direct pay” policy will pony up 30% of the $25,000 cost for a 10-kilowatt system.  On top of that, Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy program will kick in about $2,700.  As for the remainder of the cost, there’s already a plan for soliciting donations.*
• Educational – Students (and the community) will be able to monitor the solar production in real time and benefit from “hands-on” learning in one of the fastest growing industries in the country.
• Environmentally Sensible – Rooftop solar reduces pollution and cuts the need for additional expensive power plants and transmission lines.

“That’s cool,” Minnie agreed, “but guess what.  My school district is talking about doing the same thing.  Betcha we get our solar array first!”  “You’re on,” Dot smiled. “Loser treats next time we go out.  But hey, there are no losers with these ‘3-pointer’ projects.  We’ll all be winners right here on the only home we’ll ever know.  It’s where we’re all forever… Earthbound.”
 
*Send your tax-free donation to: Dodgeville School District, 619 W. Chapel St., Dodgeville 53533.  Note “Solar Project” on the memo.  THANK YOU!

            There it was again – something catching the sun on the hillside just outside of town.  “What IS that”? Ima wondered as she fretted over unpaid bills at the kitchen table.  Tired and frustrated, she called to the rest of the family, “I’m out for a walk.”
            Ima crossed the street then strode cross-country toward the gleaming light that seemed to be beckoning her.  Cresting one last rise she saw a glistening entryway of sorts.  Beyond it, a bustling crew was busy assembling some kind of fantastical creation. “Ima? Is that you?” someone called. “Come on in.  We’ve been expecting you.”
            Ima X. Tractor took a few tentative steps in and immediately felt a sense of support,  comfort, and purpose. “Hello!” Ray Ciprocity beckoned. “Let me show you around,”  “Well, I don’t know,” Ima hesitated. “I’ve got a lot to do. Nose to the grindstone, you know.”
          “That’s just it.” Ray countered. “It doesn’t have to be that way.  We’re fashioning an innovative system that’ll keep your nose away from that grindstone.  I’ll show you.”
            As they walked farther in, Ray continued. “You’ve heard about the so-called ‘K’ economy where a small minority is getting more and more wealthy while the great majority of us are finding it increasingly difficult to pay the bills.  In that ‘extractive’ model, everything – resources, relationships and well-being – are squeezed, wrung out then tossed aside in the pursuit of riches.  But what if  'wealth meant having enough to share in a system powered by the infinitely renewable resource of kindness, which multiples every time it is shared?  Then meeting your family needs wouldn’t be poisoned by destroying that possibility for someone else.’**
            Rounding a corner, Ray continued,” Ahh… here’s Manny Freewatts, head of our energy department.”  Shaking Ima’s hand, Manny winked, “Betcha didn’t know that in just one hour, the Sun delivers to Earth more energy than humanity uses in an entire year.  Technology can now economically capture, store and evenly distribute that energy.  It’s our opportunity to lower energy costs, reduce petroleum pollution and end oil’s strangle hold on us all!” Manny concluded.
            “Amazing!” grinned Ima. “Resources like kindness that actually multiply when used and resources like the sun that are free and infinitely renewable.  These are the kinds of resources to rely on because this precious planet is our only home; we’re all forever… Earthbound.”
*Reciprocity – A healthy give and take where everyone is valued and supported for mutual benefit
**Robin Wall Kimmerer

            The low winter sun streamed through the south-facing windows of Santa’s secret southern retreat.  It fairly glowed with warmth and light on that frosty afternoon.  The kindly old elf had once again gathered his top helpers in this snug retreat in northern Wisconsin to begin preplanning for the 2026 holiday season.
            But his typically jolly expression was nowhere to be found.  Instead, a worried look of concern greeted the elves as they silently seated themselves. “Have you seen this?” he asked while passing around a report. “Home energy costs across the country are jumping 9 – 12% year after year.  An estimated 6 million households have utility debt.  Folks simply can’t keep up with ever-increasing energy costs.  Families are having to make heart-wrenching choices about where to skimp when trying to feed and shelter their loved ones.  The flurry of new data centers popping are just making it worse.
            “How can families have a jolly holiday when they’re struggling to keep warm?  If our elfin magic was powerful enough, I’d use it to realign every suitable structure to face south like this one, so folks could bask in the free warmth we’re enjoying.  We’d, of course, add the appropriate roofline overhang to block that summer heat.  Alas, our magic is limited.  We’ve got the toy operation for children down pat, but what can we do for these struggling families?” Santa wondered.
            Iva Plann leaped up. “No problem! We’ve got this! Let’s make a list of gifts we CAN give to cut energy consumption and conserve heat in winter and coolness in the summer.”  Several hands shot up.
            “More insulation and weather stripping,” shouted Snuggle Inn, “that’ll reduce heating and cooling costs and make homes more comfortable.
            “LED bulbs.  They use 75% less electricity and last years longer than incandescent bulbs,” Will Brightenupp chimed in.  
            “Solar panels for all suitably sited homes,” added Sonny Wonn. “Who can’t use free energy curtesy of Mr. Sun?”
            “Home battery / rooftop solar combos are becoming increasingly affordable,” offered Newt Techguy.  “Communities with homes so-equipped can become a ‘virtual power plant’ that the utility company can draw from during peak-usage periods.  Crediting customers for their excess power is far less expensive than building costly new powerplants.”
            “Ho Ho Ho,” Santa roared. “Every home generating, conserving and sharing the sun’s free energy - welcome gifts right here where we’re all forever… Earthbound.”

           “The excitement is rising on this crisp autumn day here at the Energy Futures Speedway!”  This is Luke Att’emmgo.  I’m here with Ken Ya-Lappum, and what a race we have ahead of us!  We’re just minutes away from the start of the Energy Futures 500, the race to see which energy sources will carry Mother Earth on into the future.”
            “Once again, Luke,” Ken chimed in, “this race pits two old rivals – Fanciers of Fossil Fuels, Inc. (FOFF) and Carbon-free, Healthier, Inexpensive, Next-generation Advantages Ltd. (CHINA).  The question is, will FOFF, the traditional favorite, be able to hold off this relatively new start-up, CHINA?  Or will 21st century technologies defeat those traditional economies still relying on outmoded 20th century energy sources?”
            “The starter’s flag is up…and they’re off!”  Luke exclaimed. “But wait… there seems to be some confusion in the FOFF pit.  Their ‘Beautiful Clean Coal’ entry is sputtering and coughing at the starting line!”
             “Well Luke,” Ken interjected. “I’m not surprised. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation recently found that coal isn’t the reliable energy source it’s cracked up to be.  Its equipment-related outage rate is over 12%; whereas wind’s is about 6.6%.  And coal’s reliability is worsening year by year.”
            “But just look at CHINA speed away from the rest of the field!  It’s no wonder. CHINA’s push to expand very affordable solar and other renewables has dropped renewable energy costs dramatically.  Fast-growing and economically poorer countries alike are paying attention.  More and more they’re opting for low-cost, clean energy sources they can generate themselves.
           “Consider this.  Countries like Brazil, India and Vietnam are rapidly expanding solar and wind power.  Poorer countries like Ethiopia and Nepal are leapfrogging over gasoline-burning cars to battery-powered ones.  Nigeria, a petrostate, plans to build its first solar-panel manufacturing plant.  Morocco is creating a battery hub to supply European automakers.  Santiago, the capital of Chile, has electrified more than half of its bus fleet.”*
            Later…FOFF never did catch CHINA.  Spectators drifting away from the stands wondered, “What are the FOFF execs thinking?!  Why hang their racing gloves on dirty, increasingly expensive fuels when the rest of the world is embracing a new reality?”
           Old habits (and entrenched interests) die hard.  We don’t have to let them drag us along because this is our only home.  It’s where we’re all forever… Earthbound.
            *NYTimes – Sengupta & Plumer

            Some readers will remember that Will B. Bornsoon had slipped into the Poly Cartel’s annual summit.  Ethel (polyethylene), Vinny (polyvinyl), Sty (polystyrene) and a host of others were stunned and embarrassed when Will pointed out that millions of tons of plastic pollution were already wreaking havoc on the health of both humans and the entire eco-system.  Regardless, he could see that the plastic proponents were so profitable that they’d not likely make any real effort to reduce their pollution. 
            Will turned to someone whom he thought would care and might actually do something before saddling his generation with an environmental fiasco.  He tracked down Ima Live-Rightnow. Ima set aside the holiday gift catalogs she was perusing and listened to all he had to say.
            “Lordy, I had no idea!” Ima exclaimed. “A projected billion tons of new plastics produced every year by the time you’re born in 2060!  We can’t let that happen.”  So, Will and Ima drew up a list of things Ima’s generation can do RIGHT NOW to reduce the flood of plastic pollution.

• Beware the Holidays – Ask yourself, “Do I really need to buy another kitschy plastic knick-knack?”
• Commit to Reduce - Say “no” to plastic straws and other single-use plastics.  Bring your own reusables—straw, cup, cutlery, water bottle, and food containers whenever possible.
• Cloth Shopping Bags – Imagine the thousands of plastic shopping bags you can forgo!
• Nix the Styrofoam – Use readily available eco-friendly dinnerware and beverage containers at community dinners and potlucks. 
• Reduce Micro-plastics – Never heat food in plastic containers unless you like munching micro-plastics.

 “I guess I just wasn’t paying attention,” Ima admitted. “But we must because this will soon be the Bornsoon’s only home.  It’s where we’re all forever… Earthbound.
Learn more at: plasticpollutioncoalition.org

        Lightning flashed across the sky.  Terrifying cracks of thunder rumbled as the gloom of evening closed in. “Face it.” Hugh Mann shouted over the clamor. “We’re lost!  If we don’t find shelter soon…” His voice was lost in the din.  “Look!” Ima Pearson pointed. “Isn’t that a house?  Run!”

       Ima and Hugh reached the porch just as the first sheets of rain began pouring down.  They huddled together and wondered if they’d survive the night.  Ima tried the doorlatch.  It opened revealing a dank and gloomy hallway lined with doors.
 
       Creeping down the hallway, they reached the first darkened door.  Its placard read “Resource Depletion.”  BOOM! Another ear-splitting crack of thunder almost made them jump out of their skins.  They crept on to a door that read “Mass Extinctions” then slunk past “Plastic & Chemical Pollution” and “Climate Change.” “This place gives me the creeps,” Hugh shivered. “We can’t stay here, can we?  I’m about ready to give up.”

        “Wait.” Ima shushed. “Look at that door at the end of the hallway.  Isn’t that a light shining under it?”  They made their way to “Active Hope”* and slipped in.

       The brightly lit room was comfortable and cheery.  Looking around, Ima opened a closet.  Curiously, there hung a selection of cloaks.  One was labeled “Catch an Inspiration.” Ima slipped it around her shoulders.  In an instant, she was certain they’d make it through the dark night.  “Here,” she said, and handed a cloak labeled “Dare to Believe” to Hugh.  Donning it, Hugh nodded. “Oh yeah…no sweat.  We’ll get through the night just fine.”

        The adjacent tall, narrow cupboard held a collection of staffs.  Hugh hefted one labeled “Gather Community.” It fit his grip perfectly.  Ima found one called “Strength in Uncertainty.”  As she held it she was reminded that the future is not yet written.  “Ah yes,” she smiled, “We, all of us, are the ones the world has been waiting for.”

        Comforted by the cloaks and staffs, Hugh and Ima lie down and were soon asleep.  In the morning they marched confidently past the “tricky eco-issues” doors on into the morning sunlight. “No throwing in the towel for us,” Ima declared. “It’s too important, so we’ll carry on together because this is the only home we’ll ever know.  It’s where we’re all forever… Earthbound.” 
 
*”Active Hope” by Macy & Johnson

        The Poly cartel annual summit buzzed with exuberance.  A cheering crowd welcomed Ethel,* Vinny, Proppie, Sty and Carbby as they were ushered to their usual places of honor in front of the multitude.  This year’s chairperson, Ethel, stood to address the eager assembly.

       “Thank you!  We’ve had another very prosperous year.  Worldwide, we’ve multiplied ourselves to over 400 million tons of plastic produced in just one year!  And we’re on track to triple that to over a billion tons annually by 2060.”  The crowd roared with delight.  “These humans just can’t seem to get enough of us!  And our benefactors, the fossil fuel companies, continue to supply 99% of our raw materials.  They couldn’t be happier.  With the rapid advance of alternative forms of energy eating away at their profits, the petro-crowd loves having us as an excuse to keep drilling.”

        “Excuse me.” A small voice came from the back of the hall.  Ethel ignored the interruption as the other panelists boasted about their successes.  “Excuse me!”  The young man called louder and louder while waving his arms.  Finally, an exasperated Ethel shot back, “This is highly irregular!  Just who do you think you are, and what do you want?”

       “I’m Will, Will B. Bornsoon.”  He strode up to the panelists and continued.  “Look, I know you’ve all made life more comfortable, convenient and prosperous.  But at what cost?

• Fossil fuel extraction and plastic use and disposal negatively impact a boatload of diseases including cancer, diabetes, obesity, respiratory issues, reproductive and hormone problems, asthma and more.
• Plastic items and ‘microplastics’ fly across the planet threatening the health of wild animals, plants, and the interconnected ecosystems we rely on to survive.
• Instead of being recycled, most plastic is sent to landfills or illegal dumps, or it becomes trash fouling our beautiful landscapes.
• In the oceans, marine creatures and birds become entangled in and ingest plastic.  Once eaten, plastic pieces and particles can inflict deadly injuries on their digestive tracts, including perforation of stomach and intestinal walls.

        “How can you continue to turn a blind eye?” Will concluded. 

        The panelist were stung and embarrassed by Will’s words.  They knew they’d put profits over people and the planet. That’s no way to treat our only home!  Because we’re all forever… Earthbound.  

Coming soon – Will and Ethel work for solutions to plastimania pollution. 
*Polyethylene, Polyvinyl, Polypropylene, Polystyrene & Polycarbonate

       “Misty! Is that you?” Dewey Droppe asked as a cute H2O molecule came floating by.  “Dewey!  It’s great to see you,” Misty Foggbottom grinned. “You must be new here,” Dewey smiled back. “Who woulda guessed we’d both end up in West Union, Iowa? Wanna loop-da-loop with me?” The two water molecules had briefly shared a raindrop in a typhoon over Bora Bora back in ’97.  Misty has had a crush on Dewey ever since, so she was thrilled to do some looping with him.

       Dewey was an old hand in this high-efficiency, fossil-fuel-free geo-thermal heating and cooling system.  He was eager to show off the layout.  Misty listened politely but was more interested in… well, in other things.

       West Union (pop. 2,500) in northeast Iowa is just west of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin.  In 2014, its downtown streets needed a complete reconstruction.  So the city took advantage of some grant money to build in an environmentally friendly, money-saving heating & cooling system.  Today, the library, county courthouse, a law office, two banks, an insurance company and a shoe store are among the twelve buildings connected to an underground geothermal system running beneath six blocks of downtown.

       This system circulates a mixture of water and glycol through pipes where underground temperatures remain at approximately 50°F year-round. As the water travels through a series of vertical bores, it is warmed or cooled by the surrounding rock until it stabilizes at 50 degrees. It’s a temperature well-suited for cooling on hot summer days and a great starting point for heating in winter.  Heat pumps in each building use compressors and fans to further warm or cool the buildings depending on the time of year.  The high-density polyethylene pipes are slated to last 80 years or more while the heat pumps have a life expectancy of about 24 years.

       Energy costs for the buildings on the system have dropped 25 to nearly 50 percent.  Utility costs for the rest of the town continue to rise.  The local school district is so impressed, it’s installing a geothermal system of its own.

       Yup.  You guessed it; Misty and Dewey decided to evaporate together and travel the world. They couldn’t be happier!  As could we all by taking a lesson from the fine folks of West Union - environmentally friendly and money-saving smart – because we’re all forever… Earthbound.

       Ms. Sun was continuing her celebration of the galactic new year and getting a kick out of checking in on Planet Earth.  She loved eavesdropping on its transmissions.  “Those humans are fascinating creatures,” she mused. “With their recently acquired ability to transform my sunlight into electricity, they could create an Age of Abundance with more for everyone. 

      “I’m just wondering if they’ll take advantage of that, or if they’ll let politics and greed keep them locked into burning things up (e.g. petroleum products) for their energy needs.  And goodness!  The effects of the heat from greenhouse gas emissions are expensive!  One estimate of the damage - the hurricanes, floods, droughts and wildfires - from U.S. emissions alone could be $87 trillion through 2050! 

       “$87 trillion!?!  Hmm…, let’s see - One million seconds is about 12 days, while one billion seconds is about 32 years, and one trillion seconds is approximately 31,700 years.  “Wow!  In dollars that’s boatloads of money!  Seems like there are better ways to spend that kinda dough, especially when I’m sending them all the free energy they’ll ever need. 

       Ms. Sun continued to listen:*

• In just two years solar panels and batteries have cut use of natural gas by 40% in the fourth largest economy in the world – California.  (“Gosh, I didn’t realize there are 21 toxins in natural gas!”)   
• Pakistan figured out how to install the equivalent of half the country's national electric grid in eight months using rooftop solar panels. 
• Two of the world’s most challenging issues are inequality and climate change.  Widespread adoption of rooftop solar would “democratize” energy use and address both of these.

       “Yup,” Ms. Sun thought to herself, “ever since the Industrial Revolution energy production and distribution on Earth was centralized and controlled by the wealthy.  Huge fossil-fuel-fired facilities piped energy down the line to everyday folks.  Now that's flipped.  On Earth, the cheapest way to make energy is for everyday folks to point a sheet of glass at…me!

       “I’ve taken a liking to these humans,” Ms. Sun pondered.  “So I’m rooting for them to have the courage and wisdom to use all the free energy I’m sending to build a more prosperous world while preserving Earth’s lush environment.  What’s not to like about that?  After all, those folks are forever… Earthbound.”

*From a “Volts” conversation with Bill McKibben and Jamie Henn