Newspaper articles and opinion pieces

Columns and feature articles written for the Sunday Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus in Vermont (and since 2016 the Green Energy Times, which may be edited versions of Herald articles).

For each year, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and now 2022 and 2023 there is an compilation of my "Planet" newspaper columns on the right.

Environmental Journalism Revisited outlines the history, philosophy and vision of the Sunday Environment page; and gives an overview of the published content during the first four years.

This letter from the 1927 flood in Vermont was published in the Herald in memory of the Irene flood.

Since 2016, edited versions of my newspaper articles and recently many new articles have been published in the Green Energy Times (see annual collections to right)

Filter By Topic: Climate Change; Community solutions; Earth system; Forests; Local Food; Policy; Renewable energy; Scientific integrity; Seasonal climate; Waste management; Water

Show All Articles

2022-05-21Lost in the webs of Lies (Global climate challenges and the truth): Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2017-04-22Getting there more efficiently: Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2016-01-10Reflections on a hot year: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2015-10-04Warm Fall Brings Hope: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2015-05-03Late spring after extreme winter: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2014-11-30US-China pact is a step forward: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2014-06-05Vermont among States warming the most: Seth Borenstein (Associated Press and Rutland Herald)
2014-01-26The courage to challenge the status quo: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2013-12-15Climate Change is a moral issue: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2013-07-21Extreme weather, climate change and the future of our planet: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2013-04-14Climate change brings many surprises: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2013-02-24Accelerating climate change brings more extreme weather: Rutland Herald
2013-01-20Reflections on our environment, five years later: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2012-07-22Down to earth: Vt. scientist gauges climate from his garden - Kevin O'Connor: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2012-06-30What’s In Store For Vermont - Washington Electric Coop Annual Meeting 2012: WEC Coop Currents - June 2012 Newsletter
2012-04-08A glimpse into the future of our Vermont climate: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2012-02-26Vermont winters are changing rapidly: Rutland Herald/Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2012-01-15A year of weather disasters and climate inaction: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2011-10-23Understanding and dealing with a changing world: Rutland Herald
2011-09-04The second flood of 2011: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2011-06-19Floods and more floods get our attention: Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2011-02-13Winter reflections on more signs of climate change: Rutland Herald
2010-11-21What to do with all this rain!: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2010-11-07Climate change affects fall and winter transitions in Vermont: Rutland Herald
2010-07-18Human actions have local and global impacts: Rutland Herald
2010-07-04Lilacs grow green earlier ... and winter shrinks: Rutland Herald
2010-04-25Spring climate transition and new beginnings: Rutland Herald
2009-09-13The Transition into Fall: Rutland Herald
2009-08-02The choices we face: Rutland Herald
2009-06-21Protecting our forests: Rutland Herald
2009-04-05Envisioning a sustainable energy future: Rutland Herald
2009-03-01Snow’s Global Impact: Rutland Herald
2009-01-18Winter reflections, one year on: Rutland Herald
2008-11-17Sustainable Systems: Rutland Herald
2008-08-31Weather center offers own model: Rutland Herald
2008-07-06Water can’t be separated from life: Rutland Herald
2008-05-11The Spring Transition: Rutland Herald
2008-04-13Spring green marks the return of life: Rutland Herald
2008-02-10A look back, a look ahead: Rutland Herald

Yearly Collections of my newspaper articles

These collections of articles blend science and opinion with a systems perspective as they go through the seasons, dealing with weather, climate, energy and policy issues. They encourage the reader to explore alternative and hopeful paths for themselves, their families and society. I have written them so that a scientist will perceive them as accurate (although simplified); while the public can relate their tangible experience of the weather to the much broader issues of climate and climate change. As political attacks on climate science have increased in recent years, I have expanded my social and political commentary, since earth scientists share responsibility for the future of the Earth!

Here is a citable reference list for the Climate, Energy and Community, 'Planet' series with DOIs till 2017; continuing through 2023. My Green Energy Times annual collections run from 2016 to present.

Special climate topics

Short papers covering selected topics in more detail