The alien craft had apparently landed!  As my trusty dog, Fritz, and I stepped out into the moonlit night we could see the glow of its lights and hear the roaring engines just beyond the trees.  We cautiously approached only to find that the craft was merely a huge multi-row corn combine disgorging its grainy meal into the waiting trailer.  A far cry from the 2-row Farmall corn-picker my dad pulled with the old Ford 960 tractor.

        The climate-controlled high-tech cabs on today’s huge harvesting machinery are emblematic of the technological advances we have made here in the 2nd decade of the 21st century.  Back then, Dad would come home from the fields to a drafty house warmed by a coal burning furnace.  Now, instead of corn, his son harvests solar energy to heat his home, power his appliances and propel his vehicle.  Dad would be flabbergasted!

        That coal-burning furnace and the other energy sources and systems employed in the 20th century brought great prosperity and convenience to us all.  But much of that technology is no longer suitable in today’s world.  A case in point is the transmission-line-triggered fires in California.  With the changing climate, our huge system of exposed overhead power lines that travel hundreds of miles over land is increasingly vulnerable to the rise in extreme weather (and to techno-terrorists too).  That system has to periodically be shut down to avoid additional fires.  It can no longer be assumed that this is the best way to provide reliable, economical energy.

        At least that’s what the U.S. Navy, the State of New York and many others think.  They’re building micro-grids as an alternative.  A micro-grid is a small-scale power system that produces and stores its own locally generated renewable energy from home-owner and community sources.  When the grid system fails, the micro-grid can function independently to keep the power on.  Meanwhile, it provides economic development, jobs, and innovation to local communities while reducing the need to expand the expensive grid system.

        Like it or not, the Cardinal-Hickory Creek transmission line and the Badger Hollow Solar Farm have thrust Iowa County into the forefront of the energy conversation.  We can either let outside forces determine our energy future, or we can harvest and manage our own energy sources while growing our local economy.  Seems like an easy choice for our beautiful Driftless Area home where we’re forever… Earthbound.

        The approaching holiday season brought the old friends together to reminisce.  Now all in their “golden years,” the talk soon turned to questions of how each would be remembered once they were gone.
 
        Bea Quest said she intended to donate her extensive book collection to the local library.  “Who knows?” Bea hoped, “Maybe I’ll get a plaque on the reading room wall!”  Wealthy Pearson noted that her investments had done well. “I’ll be able to leave my children a tidy sum,” she boasted.  N. Dow Mennt intended to bequeath his antique furniture collection to the local museum.

        Liv Engwell sat quietly as she listened to the grand plans her friends had made.  She’d lived a quiet, modest life and wondered, “What have I to leave to future generations?”  With sagging shoulders she shuffled home.  “I’ll soon be forgotten,” she sighed.

        That evening granddaughter, Dee Sendant, stopped by.  She saw at once that Livie was troubled.  “What’s wrong Gram?” Dee asked.  Livie poured out the apprehensions she’d had since that afternoon’s conversation.

        “Gram,” Dee smiled, “your friends just have things money can buy.  But you have something much more valuable to give - your example of how to build a healthy, livable world.”  Dee reminded Gram how she makes a practice of Reducing her acquisition of stuff by borrowing, renting and sharing.  She Reuses and Re-purposes things instead of buying new, and then Recycles once things are truly beyond repair.  “And Gram, you’ve taught us how to eat lower on the food chain by mostly filling our plates with fruits, veggies and grains.”  Dee also reminded her that Gram was the first one in the neighborhood to have a home energy audit.  After completing the suggested improvements, her home energy use dropped dramatically saving her a bundle of money.

        Dee continued to list Livie’s prudent practices: minimum use of pesticides, harsh chemicals and artificial fertilizers, consolidating car errands to reduce travel, reducing her mowed lawn area, and on and on.

        “Gram, your friends will leave fine gifts to the future, but yours will be a far greater legacy.  As Earth Day founder, Gaylord Nelson said, ‘(Our) biological systems are the sustaining wealth of the world.’  Gram, you’re living a life in harmony with those systems.  And that’s a blessing to us all, here on the only home we’ll ever know where we’re all forever… Earthbound.”

        Little Bucky loved the Halloween season!  After carefully brushing his coat Bucky donned his best cardinal red and white then headed out looking for treats. 

        His first stop was at Old Man Coal’s dusty door.  “Well if it isn’t my favorite little customer, er…I mean friend.  Looking for treats?  Let’s see what we have.  The usual I presume?”  Coal coughed up a lump of coal into Bucky’s sack.  The badger frowned as he turned away knowing that every year he traded a huge chunk of his $15 billion annual fuel budget for lumps of dirty coal.

        Bucky’s next stop was at Nat Gass’s fracking house.  “Come in,” burped Nat while seeping gaseous fumes with every breathe. “Well, if it isn’t little Bucky.  Here you go pal,” he hissed as he handed Bucky a gas-filled balloon representing another quarter or so of that $15 billion.

        Pete Rolium’s pumphouse was next door.  Pete filled Bucky’s flask with his best 87 octane gasoline.  “Always happy to take a generous slice of that $15 billion annual energy budget off your paws little Bucky.”  Pete gushed.

        As Bucky left Pete’s his spirit sagged.  “Just who is getting treats and who’s getting tricked?” he thought to himself.  “Sure, all these guys are happy to give me their energy goodies in exchange for my hard-earned cash.”

        As he shuffled down the road he stopped at Bette Erway’s gate and decided he’d try one more door.  When Bette opened her door she peered into Bucky’s sack and shook her head.  “We can do better than that,” Bette smiled. “Bucky, you have no buried fossil fuels or uranium of your own, so every year you send your money out of state to buy energy from others.  But remember, the sun shines and the wind blows in your state too.  With today’s technology you could be generating your own power while creating home-grown jobs.  Perhaps even more important, your Focus on Energy program (FocusOnEnergy.com) provides almost $6 in energy-saving benefits for every $1 spent.  Treat yourself!” Bette advised. 

        She dropped a shiny medallion stamped SWEBS into Bucky’s sack.  The medallion was to remind him that Solar, Wind, Efficiency, and Battery Storage combined would be the real treat freeing him from Coal, Nat, and Pete’s tricks.

        Bucky headed home assured that he really can save dollars while building a cleaner world right here where we’re all forever… Earthbound.

        Director Barney Owl coughed up yet another pellet (indigestion?) as he propped his talons on the desk.  He’d stayed up all morning pouring over the latest ACB (Avian Census Bureau) report. “These finding can’t be right,” he hooted.  “There must be some mistake.”  So he called together his bureau chiefs.

        “This survey claims we’ve lost almost 1 of every 4 birds in North America over the past 50 years.  It says habitat loss, pesticides, insect declines and the changing climate have wiped out almost 3 billion of our friends and neighbors.  Tell me it isn’t so!” Barney pleaded.

        Melody Lark was the first to pipe up.  She reported that her grasslands are among the most threatened biomes on Earth and have a bird population decline of over 40%.  Janice Junco reported that a quarter of her flying forest friends have been lost.  And on it went with reports from the desert, arctic and coastal regions all sadly giving similar statistics.

        Finally Woody Duck lightened everyone’s spirits.  “Thanks to wetland conservation efforts waterfowl have added 34 million flyers since 1970.  Things do improve when our human friends make the effort,” Woody quacked.

        “That’s it!” Barney hooted. “Humans are the key to stabilizing our population.  We’ve got to educate them about how each individual can make a difference.”  So the ACB put together a guide for humans and posted it at 3BillionBirds.org. (Click:  7 Simple Actions)

• Make windows safer. – Add window “clings” or use other diversion methods.
• Keep cats indoors - Cats are the #1 human-caused reason for the loss of birds, aside from habitat loss.
• Reduce lawn space and add native plants.
• Reduce pesticide use.
• Drink shade-grown coffee – Look for Bird Friendly certification on your coffee package label.
• Reduce plastic use – A boatload of environmental benefits will follow.

 
        Perched in the back, Baldy Eagle hadn’t said a word, but now in his stately manner he strode to the front.  “Humans are a clever species.  They saw the damage that DDT pesticide was causing and wisely banned it in 1972.  As a result, my raptor family has expanded by 15 million members since then.  Humans know that we birds really are the ‘canaries in the coal mine,’ a sort of barometer of environmental health.  I’m confident they’ll help because this is their only home too.  It’s where we’re all forever… Earthbound.”

       Common Sense perched on the shoulder of ancient humankind and whispered in its ear, “Obviously, the sun revolves around the Earth.”  During the Renaissance she murmured to doctors, “Draining out the diseased patient’s bad blood by bloodletting will drain out the illness as well.”  In the 1800s, Common Sense basked in America’s abundance and practically shouted, “Limitless resources, such as the passenger pigeon, can’t possibly be exhausted.”

        In recent times Ms. Common Sense pointed to the Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear accidents and convinced most of us (this writer included) that nuclear energy as a power source is incompatible with a healthy environment.  “It’s just too risky, a possible catastrophe!” she’s warned.

        But Common Sense sometimes gives way to further analysis, scientific advancement, or actual demonstration as in the case of the now extinct passenger pigeon.  Today’s challenges over energy use and climate disruption may give us reason to question Common Sense’s former message about nuclear energy.  Could it be that catastrophic consequences would be more likely if we DON’T include sensible use of 21st century nuclear technology in our energy mix? 

       Consider a recent quillette.com article by Michael Shellenberger.  He explains that  the energy density of any fuel determines its environmental and health impacts.  Fossil fuels, for example, have very low energy density.  In contrast, uranium can produce one million times more heat per its mass than fossil fuels.

        Renewables also have weak energy flows, so they have to be spread over enormous areas.  It’s understandable that those concerned about the negative effects of fossil fuels have looked favorably toward renewables as the only and best alternative. They seem natural.  However, even in sunny California, a solar farm requires 450 times more land to produce the same amount of energy as a nuclear plant.

        What about safety?  Nuclear is arguably the best energy from an environmental perspective because it produces so little waste and its residue is contained.  Since the 1960s, every major study finds nuclear is the safest way to make reliable electricity.  (Maybe the least environmentally destructive also?)  Nuclear plants already save lives that would have been lost to air pollution.

        Wow!  Shellenberger’s argument is one big kielbasa to chew on!  In today’s energy and resource hungry world Common Sense advises, “Let’s wisely examine ALL options in building a healthy and prosperous future because this is the only home we’ll ever have.  We’re all forever… Earthbound.” 

       Byron Buymore couldn’t wait to show off his brand-new riding mower.  It only took him 10 minutes to mow his whole yard by mostly making tight turns and backing up over the small lot.  So he had plenty time to drive it over to Sharon’s to show her its many fine features.

       Just for fun, he tucked in the full color brochure describing the new SUV he’d just ordered.  (He loved that new car smell!)  Byron figured she’d be very impressed!  He also wanted to ask if she had room in her storage building for his new rider.  Heaven knows it would never fit in his 2-car garage, too much stuff in it already!

       Byron putted into Sharon’s driveway and found her on the patio.  “Hi Bye!  I just got back from visiting my sister, Bette Erway.”   Sharon went on to describe Bette’s tidy house that’s part of a co-housing community with 6 other families.  Sharon stayed in the community guest house and happened to have come the weekend of the fall block party.  The festivities included a soak in the shared hot tub while watching the kids play in the tree house and on the yard swings and climbing ropes.  Bette loved the easy access to these accommodations without having to be the only one responsible for their cost or upkeep.

       Sharon went on to tell about a sweet Facebook group Bette had joined called the Buy Nothing Project. (buynothingproject.org) With no obligations or fees and “Keep It Civil” as the only rule, she’s found this is a simple way to share or give away stuff she no longer needs and also to get free items or services that she can use.  An added and maybe even more important benefit is that she’s gotten to know her neighbors better and has found lots in common with folks whose yard signs (and opinions) are very different than hers.

       That evening Byron watched a news clip that reported it would take the resources of FOUR Earths if every human consumed resources like the average American.  He’d always assumed that owning a bunch of cool stuff was the key to happiness.  But Sharon A. Goodlife made him think there may be a more fulfilling way to live without so much stuff.
After all, we only have this one planet to share where we’re all forever… Earthbound. 

       Now in his senior year, Benji was excited to be taking Ms. Learnalot’s Current Issues class.  He’d already decided on a term paper topic.  The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) had recently released the “Climate Change and Land” report.   With land stewardship going back generations on Benji’s family farm, he wanted to do his part, and he needed to learn more.

       That night he poured over a summary of the report but eventually his eyelids drooped, and Benji fell into a deep sleep.  His dream world took him to a Colonial Era print shop where his distant relative, Benjamin Franklin, was setting type for the next edition of Poor Richard’s Almanac.

       Benji chatted with the elder statesman and shared what he’d already learned.  The report confirmed that the Earth’s climate is definitely being disrupted.  There’s no time to lose in addressing that reality.  Mr. Franklin nodded in agreement, “You may delay, but time will not.”  The report recommends transitioning away from fossil fuels as quickly as possible.  “Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today,” the printer advised.

       As the report’s title indicates, proper land use is critical in addressing this issue.  Humans continue to expand the amount of land in “production mode” to supply our food and material goods.  This means the natural areas – forests, jungles, undisturbed prairies and the like – are diminishing.  But they are critical for soaking up and storing carbon and for keeping a balanced carbon cycle.  We can’t afford to lose much more. “When the well is dry, we know the worth of water,” Ben cautioned.

       Livestock production can be particularly problematic because feeding livestock requires a lot of land in comparison to the food calories it creates.  Many of us love our burgers, steaks and chops.  But each of us can help by moderating our meat consumption (especially red meat) and letting plants take a more central place on our plates. “Eat to live, don't live to eat,” Ben suggested.

       Benji hadn’t realized how important farming and the ag industry is in stabilizing the climate.  He was determined that his family farm would do its part by demonstrating best practices.  “A good example is the best sermon,” the elder Franklin agreed adding, “You can do anything you set your mind to.”

       Thanks for the good advice Ben!  Because this is our only home where we’re all forever… Earthbound.

       “Why bother?  We don’t need to worry about it until China and India fix their problems!” was the final retort in a recent conversation about pollution and energy use.  Hmm…seems a bit like peeing in the swimming pool because you suspect that the other kids are doing it too. “Come on in; the water’s …well actually pretty yucky.  We all keep peeing in it.”

       There’s no denying that China and India have pollution problems.  They are by far the most populous countries in the world, each with about 18% of the Earth’s population (36% combined).  With all those people, there are of course, huge challenges.  But they’re not doing nothin’ about it.

       China – An article in this month’s Forbes magazine reports that China is “the world’s largest producer, exporter and installer of solar panels, wind turbines, batteries and electric vehicles,” and is best poised to “become the world’s renewable energy superpower.”  Not too shabby!

       India – The 2018 BloombergNEF Climatescope report compared 103 countries using over 80 criteria concerning clean energy policies, emissions and installations.  Guess which county ranked 2nd best right behind Chile?  (Chile?! Who would have guessed?) That’s right; 2nd place goes to India!  While India is still heavily dependent upon coal, in 2017 new Indian renewable energy installations surpassed new coal power plants for the first time.

       And what about other pollution?  Consider plastics; our world is awash in it.  It’s found in mountain air, whales’ stomachs, our water and food supplies, and even in human breast milk – yikes!  China recently refused to continue assuming the role of dumping grounds for much of the world’s plastic.  We in the U.S. had been shipping most of our to-be-recycled plastic to China hoping/wishing/assuming it would be recycled into other products.  Turns out our practice of shipping to China helped mask the enormous worldwide plastic pollution problem.  In response, China, India and 139 other countries have implemented taxes or partial bans on plastics.  The U.S. has yet to do so – oops!

       We all work hard.  Sometimes it’s easy to think the other guy, especially someone different than us, isn’t carrying his fair share of the load.  But I’m guessing our neighbors across the ocean value clean air and water just as much as we do.  It’s a worthwhile common goal because this is the only swimming hole we’ll ever have.  Here, where we’re all forever… Earthbound.

        Looking for a good investment?  You might want to check out the weight-loss industry. At $70 billion annually, that’s over $200 /year for every man, woman and child in the country!

        We’re surrounded by tempting food options.  It’s easy to over-indulge then hope for a magic bullet that would allow us to eat what we want yet stay trim.  But for most of us there is no simple fix.  Instead, a fundamental shift in our relationship with food and a modification in lifestyle is likely the key.  Perhaps summed up as: Eat Less - Move More.

       And what about energy use?  Yikes! we’re over-eaters here too.  With only 4.4% of the world’s population, Americans consume about 17% of the world’s energy.  Of course, the U.S. is a highly developed, industrialized nation, so we’d expect to use more energy than some.  But we tap into almost 1/5 of the world’s energy supply.  Seems like a lot! 

       Most of this energy is generated from burning fossil fuels causing yet another case of over-indulgence.  The global atmosphere’s “fighting weight” of CO2 has held fairly steady between 180 and 280 parts per million(ppm) for tens of thousands of years.  Oh-oh! We’re currently at 415 ppm and rising.  When we burn fossil fuels, carbon moves from the geosphere (below ground) to the biosphere (above ground).  The long-established carbon cycle critical to Earth’s environment since the dawn of humankind is getting thrown significantly out of whack.

       If only there were a cheap and easy “carbon-removal” magic bullet.  Then we could continue with our current energy use system, and technology would conveniently solve the excess atmospheric CO2 issue.  No such luck.

       Carbon-capture technologies do exist, and they’re an important component for reducing atmospheric carbon.  But what’s really needed is a fundamental shift in our relationship with energy.  Perhaps that could be summed up as: Use Less; Embrace Transition.
 
       Use Less – Each of us can be more mindful about our use of energy and find ways to reduce that use.  Legislation such as the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, H.R. 763 would make doing so easier.

       Embrace Transition – Fortunately, clean renewable energy is now often the low-cost leader.  It’s time to embrace these new options to save money and clean the air.

       There’s no time to lose because this is the only home we’ll ever know.  It’s where we’re forever… Earthbound. 

       Conservative U.S. Representative Les Pascal-D’Lawws and progressive Rep. Polly Tician were determined to move beyond political partisanship.  “It’s time to find common ground and work together,” Polly declared as Les nodded in agreement.

       So they gathered their top advisors.  “Okay folks,” Les began, “our task is to craft a straight-forward, bipartisan plan that will both grow the economy and protect the environment.  We want a bill that will provide multiple benefits for all Americans.”

       The advisors from opposing political parties eyed each other warily then finally began to speak up.  “For starters, we can’t add more burdensome government regulations,” Frieda Marketts insisted.  “And to get buy-in from the public, folks gotta have the chance to save money or even get ahead.”
  
       “Fair enough,” Juan Kleenaire countered.  “Then for better human AND environmental health another result must be improved air quality and climate stabilization.”

       Knute Phuelles burst from his chair.  “I think we can do both!  Listen, today’s energy markets are bristling with new, cleaner energy options.  We should open the door for these clean options to become increasingly competitive.  Along with that we should motivate folks to be thrifty with their energy dollars.  Then we’d have both cleaner air AND job creation.”

        “And we mustn’t forget the little guy!” Avery Pearson quietly added.

       Finally, after weeks of debate the Energy Innovation & Carbon Dividend Act was ready for co-sponsors.  It features:

• A gradually increasing fee on producers of fossil fuels that pollute the air and contribute to climate disruption.
• That revenue would go directly into the pockets of all Americans in the form of monthly dividends totaling about $500 / person the first year.  The economically lowest 2/3 of Americans would come out money ahead even after taking into account any rise in fuel costs resulting from the fee. 
• Transitioning to new energy sources and increased efficiencies would create over 2 million local jobs over 10 years.
• Cleaner air will save hundreds of thousands of lives.
•  We’d benefit from an estimated 40% reduction in carbon emissions the first 12 years.

        The actual H.R. 763 already has 56 bipartisan co-sponsors.  Polly, Les and the other imaginary characters in this tale would cheer!  Learn more about the Energy Innovation & Carbon Dividend Act at energyinnovationact.org.  Urge your Congressperson to do the same.  It’s a path to a cleaner more prosperous future for our only home where we’re forever… Earthbound.