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Intro material for those ending up here from this page: Project Worldview Exploring Climate Change Concerns Page: 

Past Daily Courier Columns about Climate Change <==with added info / dialogue

Choices We Make in the Global Village with Chapter 7: Choices In A Time Of Climate Crisis is available for check out at the Prescott Public Library 

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Courier Climate Dialogues: where climate is defined as:
"Any prevailing conditions affecting life, activity, etc."

 Prescott AZ Daily Courier "Science Works"  Reader Feedback and Responses 

==> Scroll Down to Date of Column of Interest 

S. Cook response:  Seems in your zeal for culture war combat, you didn't read the entire column. If I am always for more government, why did I include the following: 

"...consider the subsidiarity principle: matters should be handled by the competent authority at the lowest level. Some cite this to justify belief that family and value-shaping institutions (schools, churches, etc) should be strengthened.  The Republican Women of Prescott’s website—which says “The most effective government is government closest to the people”—seemingly embraces it. Goode and Hancock agree, saying The Rural Groundwater Management Act is “about working together, not imposing solutions from the top down.”

Yes, the AZ Dept. of Water Resources is the authority on water.  And the Rural Groundwater Management Act is structured so local communities will work with them. But in arguing for the status quo--and attacking me for seemingly wanting more / big government --you are contradicting yourself / trying to have it both ways. Seems here  you are on the big government / one size fits all side of the issue--a place supposed small government people should not be on. 

Also see my next response. 

S. Cook response:  I haven't looked at the CNN poll and the wording of the question. No one wants federal dollars wasted nor their being used for fraud, nor people doing jobs that are not meeting needs or pointing toward eventual benefits. What I am against--and so are most Americans--is his doing this recklessly. I stand by the last sentence of my column: "Few support Elon Musk recklessly wielding his chainsaw."  

S. Cook response:   Thanks. 

I just read your article in today's Courier and your lead that Tesla was to get 400M really concerned me so I did some fact checking. Per ChedckyourFact.com and Snopes, that is not correct. You may want to check those websites yourself. Please, help to tell the truth and not spread rumors. Thank you.

Thanks for your comment about my article.  Good for you saying : "Tesla was to get 400M really concerned me"  and willingness to fact check.  Note in my article I did not say it was a done deal. I basically cited a story reporting the equivalent of "the Trump administration got caught with its hand in the cookie jar."  Here is a link to the NPR story cited in my article:

https://www.npr.org/2025/02/24/nx-s1-5305269/tesla-state-department-elon-musk-trump

  As you suggested I went to snopes and their fact check supports the NPR story. You did not read carefully enough. Here is their summary:

In mid-February 2025, a rumor spread online that the U.S. Department of State planned a $400 million contract on "armored Teslas," which would benefit Elon Musk, the car company's CEO and adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump. It is true that the State Department, at one point, published a procurement plan for $400 million worth of "armored Tesla." After news reports broke about the plan, however, the department replaced "armored Tesla" with "armored electric vehicles" in the document before removing the $400 million contract entirely. A State Department official denied that the agency awarded any contract to Tesla and said the plan began under former President Joe Biden. But reporting from NPR, verified by Snopes, determined the Biden administration's finalized plan involved buying just $483,000 in armored electric vehicles — not $400 million — and $3 million in related equipment. Thus, the document suggests it is not true that plans for a $400 million contract with Tesla began under the Biden administration.

While the above does nothing to refute the NPR story-- and the belief that investigators caught the Trump administration trying to steer $400 million to Tesla—I don't like the last part of the above summary "it is not true that plans for a $400 million contract with Tesla began under the Biden administration."

NPR was not saying that; I am not saying that.  Perhaps Trump admin. folks at one time were. This may be the source of your confusion? The Snopes summary is saying--as my article suggests-- the Biden folks wanted to buy a few Tesla armored vehicles for $483,000. (They were to be used for escorting and protecting foreign diplomats.) Cynics will charge that the Trump people used this as an opening to funnel $400 million to someone (Musk) who reportedly gave their 2024 election campaign nearly $300 million.  Whoever was involved in upping the $483,000 to $400 million should have known they would be caught. They certainly lacked common sense: few would believe the Trump State Dept. would care enough about protecting foreign diplomats to justify buying thousands of such vehicles—to say nothing of Trump's dislike of electric vehicles!  

 Best wishes, Steve

I do appreciate your response but I do not think this is a Trump issue. Also, when I hear the word "rumor" in today's world, I am suspicious regardless of the side it comes from. I checked some sources again and they are below.

POLITIFACT states what you said about the 483k to be spent but per their findings, the line item was removed in January. It does not say before or after January 20th so I don't know if that was eliminated under the Biden or Trump administration. The NBC article (Feb. 13, 2025, 12:49 PM MST By Daniel Arkin) says the line item was last updated in December 2024 and it was labeled Tesla and still in the planning stage. I am not saying either Trump or Biden are angels with our money but I do not believe this is a Trump issue from what and how I read these articles. Final thought regarding electric vehicles. I hope they can stand on their own without government rebates or government subsidies for charging stations.

Thanks for the additional info.   FYI:  I may devote a future column to electric vehicles—stay tuned!

I disagree that relevant Arizona law suggests "community goals relate only to land use". If that's the case why are "development policies" cited immediately following "community goals." I think I made this connection in what I wrote in my column: 

Regarding the words "woke" and "wokeness". I don't think there's an accepted definition of what these words mean. Given that--and that  they are often used in a context that contains hateful language--I will steer clear of getting involved. I will engage in constructive related dialogue involving terms like "meritocracy" and "affirmative action."

2/24/25 email from PG:

attached is "Family and Politics" flyer describing a "Better Angels" workshop "How to Talk to Loved Ones on the Other Side" held on February 15 at the Prescott United Methodist Church

S. Cook response: Thanks for sharing this.

2/23/25 email from PG:

Thought-provoking article. Am curious to see the rants and raves for this one. 

S. Cook response: Thanks. Me too! 

2/3/25 email from CS:   Very gracefully written column.  I imagine it could spur thoughts and reflections from many.  And it fits so well with Paula's column. 

2/2/25 email from WA:  As a naturalist, I have used exercises to get students/learners to go beyond labels when looking at organisms. Assigning a name often stops learning. We have to accept that even as we try to get a bit closer to the "reality" behind it, knowing we are limited. I can imagine in your field this has to be accepted and acknowledged

response to the rant: Thanks for sending in this cute put down. Sorry you missed the point, summarized in last paragraph of column, which I'll put a bit differently here: 

we should humbly appreciate those seeking answers to BIG Questions, rather than arrogantly pretending we (as scientists and people) have all the answers. 

For my thoughts about what goes on over in Sedona see my very second column: click to read  Challenging Bashar, Sedona’s UFO Cult Guru

response to CS: Thank you!

response to WA:  Thanks for your thoughts.  "Any description is incomplete. "   Yes — Michael Crichton's autobiographical book Travels has a wonderful illustration of this (in its Appendix) that I used to use with teaching students...

1/18/25 from SR:  Thanks to you for your sustained fight regarding energy. I enjoyed the January 12 resiliency article and I’m so appreciative of your efforts.

response to rant: I don't think electrical utility deregulation would necessarily bring "a reliable grid"--it could bring just the opposite depending on how the deregulation was done.. Right now reliability is not nearly the problem that sky-rocketing costs for electricity is: consumers are paying due to lack of competition! Competition is what free market economics is about. If deregulation promotes competition, great!. But here's what I wrote in my December 29 column the ranter may not have seen:: "...As much as I like Milton Friedman’s “Free to Choose” world where consumers have lots of choices, modern corporate capitalism often limits choice. So government regulators need to occasionally step in, break up monopolies and promote competition." The Arizona Corporation Commission is certainly not doing this--they are part of the stranglehold of AZ consumers by investor owned monopoly utility companies problem. 

response to SR:  Thank you!

December 29 column -- Reader Feedback and Responses

column title: Economic Competitiveness and Prescott Consumers

email received from JR December 31, 2024:

I have thoroughly enjoyed all your letters in the Prescott Daily Courier. I appreciate your detail, writing style, and presentation of facts. However, I would like to take issue with one of your statements in the article on December 28, 2004, regarding Prescott's Economic Competitiveness.

  The sentence read:   Notable here: the Prescott Chamber of Commerce, and a church group (prominent in Prescott) The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, which got $500,000 from APS in 2021.

  Most of your readers would assume that the Chamber and the St.Vincent office here in town benefit from this APS windfall. I would like to clarify a bit.  In 2021 APS gave  the Phoenix  diocesan business office of St. Vincent de Paul $500,00 as a credit to be used to help pay APS bills for customers who had fallen behind. In Prescott, we help clients who have fallen behind either with our own limited financial resources or the resources of the diocesan office (made possible by the APS grant.) APS also has a Wildfire Program now that allows community members to apply for additional help in paying electricity bills.

  I understand your point entirely. However, our donations to help the less fortunate have fallen drastically since Covid. The implication in your article is that we are doing just fine with all the APS monies. My guess is that many readers might assume we no longer need any financial donations. That is simply not true. St. Vincent de Paul helps the needy in countless ways. We rely heavily on the generosity of community members and could not keep our program afloat without them.

  Thank you for your time.

response from S. Cook:

Thanks for your thoughtful letter.  Other than assuming St. Vincent de Paul is more or less a traditional Catholic Church and having bought some things over the years in its thrift shop, I know very little about its Prescott operations. I did somewhat agonize over citing it in my column as I did, given that I have an 800 word limit, lots to communicate, and often can't tell the whole story.

I did know that St. Vincent de Paul used some of the $500,000 it got from APS in 2021 to help the needy pay electric bills, but space precluded mentioning that .  If in fact ALL of this money will be spent solely for this purpose that's great. (Please let me know if that's the case)   I hope to be fair in what I write to those I write about and especially to not peddle misinformation nor do harm to specific individuals. 

  Regarding investor-owned utility APS, I could have cited the roughly $10 million / year its CEO receives but decided against this partly given the recent shooting of the United Health Care CEO.  I mention that since it alludes to the disgust of many with greed, and corporate America.   How does this relate to St. Vincent de Paul and the Catholic Church? Simply put, by writing a letter in support of an APS rate increase of $460 million, I believe St. Vincent de Paul puts itself on the wrong side of this issue: the corporate "have" side, not the millions of struggling Arizona rate payers "have not" side.

  If my brief mention of St. Vincent de Paul negatively affects fund-raising then so be it. Those in its leadership making the decision to support an APS rate increase need to be aware that many may not like this action. They also need to be made aware of the possibility that this position is contrary to Christian values.

  Recalling the Bible story of Jesus throwing the money men out of the Temple in Jerusalem, I am attaching something I wrote many years ago praising the US Catholic Bishops' Pastoral Letters-- in particular one from November 11 1984  titled "Catholic Social Teaching and the US Economy."

Please feel free to share all of this with St. Vincent de Paul religious higherups both in Prescott and Phoenix.

 email received from JR January 2, 2025:

Thank you for your quick response. I am embarrassed to admit that I did not know St. Vincent de Paul supported the APS rate hike. That changes my perspective on this matter quite a bit. I am assuming that St. Vincent is using the entire $5000,00 for helping with client bills but I will check that out more thoroughly.  I agree with you wholeheartedly about corporate greed in America. The pastoral letter you included from the bishop is also quite enlightening. Thank you for the additional information. I will be sharing it with fellow members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Once again, I look forward to reading your columns in the Courier. I have actually printed several of them for my own education.

Respectfully yours,

response from S. Cook:

Sorry it's taken awhile to get back to you.  I have finally tracked down copies of the letters that both St. Vincent de Paul and the Prescott Chamber of Commerce sent to the AZ Corporation Commission as part of the 2024 APS rate increase  edocket E-01345A-22-0144. These can be viewed at

https://docket.images.azcc.gov/E000033320.pdf?i=1736700018079

rant January 5, 2025:

response from S. Cook:

My December 29 column said "Market forces have pushed median sale prices of Prescott homes above $700,000"  This is entirely true as a glance at the chart in the January 3 2025 Prescott Daily Courier shows:

When I wrote that, I wasn't aware that Prescott home prices have apparently fallen. The rant communicates data which further suggests this. This is a welcome trend.

December 15 column -- Reader Feedback and Responses

column title: Technology-Related Raves, Rants, News and Hope 

December 16 email from LS:

I can't provide more photos as the glare is hurting my eyes.[ three photos of glare from  solar panel arrays attached]

response from S. Cook:  

Thanks for your feedback to my December 15 column—I especially appreciate the photos of glare from solar PV panels.

  There's no doubt this can be a problem, but... It does not last very long given that as the Earth turns the Sun moves. Given glare is from reflected light, governed by basic physics Law of Reflection (reflected angle = incident angle, where these are measured with respect to the normal (perpendicular) to the surface), the Sun's movement in minutes will soon dissipate annoying glare seen by a fixed observer.

  If the observer does not want to wait, then he or she can move slightly to where glare is not visible. Or they can simply not look.  Solar PV is not perfect, but alternatives are much worse. For comparison, those down-wind from a coal or gas fired power plant don't have these options—and the air pollution they breathe causes big, well-documented health problems.

  Note in one of the photo you sent glare is most pronounced from a few panels and none is seen from adjoining ones...

  My big objection to the published rant about glare was that--in seeming to equate looking at solar panels to looking directly at the Sun--it seemed designed to instill fear: fear-mongering.

  As for how much money is made by solar farm developers [point raised elsewhere by you?], I'm interested in anything you learn on this topic. My concern right now is with APS and how much money they are making off utility-scale solar developers. I've been told that what caused one developer to quit a 450 megawatt proposed Yavapai County project they'd invested heavily in planning was APS wanting $100 million !! (called a feed in tariff) to tie solar output into APS transmission lines / sub station structure . My next column (December 29) may touch on this.

 December 22 rant:

response from S. Cook:

Given its size and basis in science, citing the Audubon Society is entirely appropriate.  Likewise for citing Forbes, which publishes one of the world's leading and most respected economics magazines. If they have a liberal / political left-learning bias, I am not aware of it. I have always thought of Forbes as slightly to the right of political center.

As for "Science Indoctrination"--of course my column promotes science-based problem solving and offers a science-based worldview! If this ranter confronted me face to face,  I would ask if he or she is by chance carrying a smart phone? Given that most people would proceed to pull one out of a pocket or purse, I would then launch into a discussion of how that phone came to be. This would eventually get around to the "Science Works" name of my column--and point out that science detractors can't have it both ways: trust on a science-based product and otherwise trash what science is based on.

November 17 2024   Reader Feedback and Responses

column title: Here Comes the Sun.  It’s…Not Alright?

November 24 rant: 

response from S. Cook:

The above claim is false, but like many conspiracy theories it builds on a grain of truth: glare from solar panels can complicate landing airplanes. That concern is addressed in “Research and Analysis Demonstrate the Lack of Impacts of Glare from Photovoltaic Modules” on the National Renewable Energy Lab (nrel.gov) website. It states, “PV modules exhibit less glare than windows and water. Solar PV modules are specifically designed to reduce reflection, as any reflected light cannot be converted into electricity. PV modules have been installed without incident at many airports.” 

see also Rebuttals to Many False Claims
made in relation to
Utility-Scale Solar Projects in Yavapai County

November 26 rant: refers to "habitat-destroying , bird killing utility-scale solar facilities"

response from S. Cook: 

Let me repeat my reply to a previous rant (from August 13): 

from https://www.audubon.org/news/wind-power-and-birds

The Audubon Society says it "strongly supports wind energy that is sited and operated properly to avoid, minimize, and mitigate effectively for the impacts on birds...While wind energy helps birds on a global scale by curbing climate change, wind power facilities can harm birds through direct collisions with turbines and other structures, including power lines. .. An estimated 140,000 to 679,000 bird deaths occur per year due to turbine collisions, which is substantial, but significantly less than deaths caused by outdoor cats and building collisions."

The above was written in 2020. I will add: 

1) since then the wind industry has taken steps to minimize turbine collisions with birds. Notably these include more carefully siting wind farms and moving toward bigger but slower moving turbines--given birds flying right into the path of revolving blades a better chance of avoiding collision.

2) The American Bird Conservancy estimates that American outdoor cats annually kill 2.4 billion birds!  

November 3 2024   Reader Feedback and Responses

column title: Information Wars—A Report from the Local Front

November 10 rant: 

response from S. Cook:

It you can provide I specific article or study I can comment in detail. Generally, I believe the scientific consensus is that many models underestimate the recent warming being measured. Certainly climate modeling presents big challenges, but from a rather crude start decades ago it has steadily advanced. Here are three references that describe the advances, challenge and explain the uncertainties... 

Halving of the uncertainty in projected warming over the past decade by Nathan Gillett  (from NPJ Climate and Atmospheric Science June 22 2024) 

What are the biggest challenges and innovations for new climate models? (from MIT Climate P ortal April 2024)

What Uncertainties Remain in Climate Science? – State of the Planet by Renee Cho (from Columbia Climate school  Jan 12 2023)_

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October 6, 2024 Reader Feedback and Responses

column title: Passing Prop 478--Yes; Breaking up NOAA-No

email from JP: Great piece on NOAA.  Nice opportunity to educate readers about this all important Fed agency.  I used to work in marine geology and we studied paleo climate.  Fascinating stuff and so pertinent today.

response from S. Cook: Thanks. Glad you, as someone with earth, ocean, and (paleo) climate-related  credentials, liked it!

email from DH: Hello Stephen;  I always enjoy your articles in the Prescott Courier, but really appreciate today’s. Thank you for supporting Prop 478. It’s hard for me to understand why some of our neighbors don’t seem to get the importance of “public safety” regardless of its terminology.  Wildfires are very real throughout AZ. I was evacuated during the Indian Fire some 20 years ago. We were lucky that well trained firefighters, and Mother Nature providing some moisture/humidity, allowed our firefighters to get control quickly. But even with that help, there were some homes that burned as I recall in the Cathedral Pines area off S. SR 89.

Being a longtime Prescott resident, any period of continuing dryness makes me a bit nervous. This is especially accentuated by my knowledge of our extremely limited exit routes. We tried to get the Sun Dog Ranch Rd connector for exactly that purpose back in the early ‘90s. I doubt many folks realize that we are very limited in circulation when an emergency may arise.

And the idea of limiting or curtailing NOAA scares me to death! Science is the best chance for our survival.   Here’s hoping that sanity returns to our world soon.  Thank you again,

response from S. Cook:  Thanks for writing.  I especially relate to your comment "any period of continuing dryness makes me a bit nervous"  as it brings back memories of years I lived in the mountains of south New Mexico in a remote spot particularly vulnerable to fire. On two occasions twelve years apart fire came within a mile or less of my land and all that prevented it from burning was a shift in wind direction. And during periods of extreme dryness I was constantly monitoring my radio awaiting a call that our volunteer fire department needed to respond.

email from JD: As most liberals you mislead your readers either intentionally or thru ignorance but Trump has repeatedly disavowed project 2025 in fact has no idea what’s in it.As to the report itself there’s much more detail than just breaking noaa up both conceding some important work they do but suggestions on how to do it better,thanks,

response from S. Cook: Thanks for writing. Two comments: 1) I am not a liberal! Yes, as a young person I was left-leaning--but in recent decades I have steadily moved to the political center. Now, I am registered as an independent, and recently voted in the Republican primary. I have some conservative credentials such as fiscally, I deplore our $34 trillion national debt, and, individual freedom -wise,  there are lots of regulations I don't like.  Especially those that defy common sense, are very costly and do little  if anything to promote the common good. Having grown up in rural America in my 20s, 30s, and 40s with freedom to  build houses I was going to live in as I saw fit, it's been difficult dealing with the "what you can't do" building wise given all the red tape today. 2) I did not attempt to mislead readers per your suggestion: "either intentionally or thru ignorance but Trump has repeatedly disavowed project 2025". Keep in mind I have a (800) word limit and often can't go into details. Here is an excerpt from the PBS News article I cited that I might have included had space permitted:

"Project 2025 is the conservative Heritage Foundation’s policy blueprint for a Republican administration. Trump has disavowed it, but it was written by several former Trump administration officials. In 2022, when Trump gave a keynote speech at a Heritage event in Florida, he said the organization would “lay the groundwork and detail plans for exactly what our movement will do.” 

The article has a link to a CNN story headlined "Trump claims not to know who is behind Project 2025. A CNN review found at least 140 people who worked for him are involved." Links to both articles:

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/fact-checking-what-project-2025-says-about-the-national-weather-service-and-noaa

https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/11/politics/trump-allies-project-2025/index.html

Finally with respect to Project 2025 and NOAA / NWS etc: you are correct to say Project 2025 does offer "suggestions on how to do it better."

From October 13 Rants & Raves:

response from S. Cook: My column appears on the Opinion page. Newspaper Op-Ed pages typically contain lots of political related commentary. If I were forced to classify everything I wrote in my October 6 column as either in the realm of science (scientific method related, on science subject matter, about science-based organizations, reporting facts, etc) or in the political realm (concerned with government, politicians, expressing opinions, urging action on questions voters will address, about ballot measures or particular candidates, etc.,) I'd score the column at 50% science / 50% political. I think this is probably a good mix. I am saddened that this reader--with the "purported to be about science" remark--does not see it that way. 

September 22, 2024 Reader Feedback and Response

column title: Imagine Prescott Embracing Creative Destruction and Antequera, Spain

email from RM: Stephen - your article...about Prescott and Antequera caught my attention because my father was born in Antequera.  He came to America with his family as a baby in 1913 so obviously he has no memory of being there.  I have been attempting to visit there, but so far haven't been able to.  Hopefully, one day...

response from S. Cook: Interesting! Thanks for sharing. If we can promote Antequera as a Prescott sister city, maybe you can join Prescott folks going there as a group. I should note that there are good travel connections available in Malaga, Spain (both by bus to Antequera –45 minutes away, and by air to major European / USA cities. Best wishes.

email from CS: The idea of Creative Destruction is a highly intriguing and potentially controversial one which you could easily spend an entire column hashing back and forth without trying to suggest any concrete next steps for the city of Prescott. Just further famililarizing the readers with the concept .

       Do you want people to buy this idea?  Saying the white people came and took over the land from the natives is probably not going to get people too excited about Creative Destruction--except the ones who still believe that Manifest Destiny reigns supreme.

       To continue--I think getting together a cadre of people who think your idea is a great one would be a first step toward pursuing any new Sister Cities... Prescott has a very active Sister City relationship with Caborca, Mexico. .  Any discussion of sister cities should definitely acknowledge the nature of this relationship--the one time mayor--some years back--was quite active...You might write an entire column on the amazingness of Antequara, Spain---& end it with something like--"Wouldn't it make a great sister city."

...Or write a column dedicated entirely to describing Prescott's relationship with its 3 current sister cities. You could discuss the virtues & inadequacies of each of them, write a little about the character of each of these cities & why it was chosen in the first place.

 response from S. Cook: Thanks for the feedback. . As you seem to suggest, my article was attempting to familiarize readers with the idea of creative destruction. It's a complex enough subject that--unless narrowed down to a specific example--doesn't generally lend itself to a black & white / against or for position. With respect to the demolishing the old City Hall and replacing it with a new building, I was trying to creatively add something to the new building design that would help quell opposition from historic preservation folks. I also see what I propose on the roof of the new building-- and its connection to Thumb Butte and Antequera Spain--as a way to reconcile white European  roots of the American Southwest and early Prescott history with the native American / Yavapai culture that it so thoroughly disrupted. While on one hand its a step toward peacefully bringing people together with respect to our past, given its setting on a hotel roof / possible sister city connection, it's also a way to bring in more tourist $ dollars. Should be win--win.  

Re: you saying "...write a column dedicated entirely to describing Prescott's relationship with its 3 current sister cities." This is a future possibility. Note:  Prescott has three sister city relationships: with Caborca, Mexico as you know, and cities in El Salvador and Germany. Note one of these relationships is listed as "inactive" on City of Prescott website: Suchitoto, El Salvador. US State Dept. advises against traveling there. I've been on that city's website and I would love to visit there if it was safe to do so. Note: I would personally fear violent gang activity; young males traveling there conceivably could be jailed on suspicion of their being involved with gangs / drug cartels.

I would like to see Prescott end its sister city relationship with Suchitoto and forge a new one with Antequera.  I am aware that its relationship with Caborca--although itself somewhat of a dangerous place, especially at night--is a special one that should be preserved.

 from AF, City of Prescott:  I'm reaching out as the staff liaison for our Sister City programs. City Council was included on your emails and they would be the ones to determine whether or not to add or dissolve any of our Sister Cities. Normally, if the Mayor is interested, he would send a letter of intent to the possible Sister City and if they are interested as well then it would be placed on a Council agenda for Council to approve a resolution forming the relationship.

With Sister Cities, there needs to be a dedicated community group to form the board so if you know of a group interested in Antequera, Spain, I'd recommend all of them email or reach out to the Mayor with their interest of forming a board as well as reaching out to me so if it is formed I know how to contact them to support them. We have had Sister Cities in the past that were created and if there isn't community support and involvement, they usually don't continue much longer after the resolution.

Please let me know if you have any additional questions about the Sister Cities.

response from S. Cook: Thank you!  

September 8, 2024 Reader Feedback and Response

column title: Prescott Beaver Believers

click here to read  "Prescott Beaver Believers" 

From September 17 Rants & Raves:

email from GM 9/9/2024: The Sunday column came out great!  Thanks for doing those - this town needs it!

response from S. Cook:  Thanks.

August 25, 2024 Reader Feedback and Response

column title: What’s the Fight Over?—It’s a Gas!

from HM 8/25/2024:   Thanks for following up on this [earlier news report]  Steve. I think it would be useful for the City of Prescott to ask Waste Management about their analysis of why they think flaring is the best option. After that, I think the City and Sierra Club and others could follow up with suggestions.   I would suggest that you contact directly the upper level person at Waste Management who handles such issues – as a second chance for them to respond. If they don’t respond, then I think you could mention their lack of interest in one of your future columns.

 response to HM:

August 4, 2024 Reader Feedback and Response

column title: Rebooting Prescott Climate Dialogues  

click here (then scroll down) to read Rebooting Prescott Climate Dialogues

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From August 13 Rants & Raves:

From August 11 Rants & Raves:

Stephen Cook's rambling column about "climate change" is typical leftist hocus-pocus, circa 2006. Several debunked positions, little updated "science." The warmists are so easily triggered by other ideas rooted in logic. Look up, the sky is blue.

8/5/24 email from SE:

Read your article and personally feel you are a lunatic.  You are a typical Democratic scaremonger who uses these tactics to frighten people into believing the earth is going to explode or some other nonsense idea.  You and others like you should be locked up so you can't do anymore damage to the world.

8/4/24 email from DL:

Thank you for your thoughtful column today. The reaction you got regarding your previous climate change article from some of Prescott’s finest was not surprising. I believe this community is populated by ignorant, questionably educated souls who don’t have a farthing of a clue about climate change and they merely mouth what they hear from the “right”. It’s sad, but true.

8/4/24 email from TB:

Now you've done it.

That last paragraph about education.

To the typical "Why should I pay for schools in my property taxes, I don't have any kids in school?"

My response is: "I don't want to live near stupid people"

Geologist by education and training, there have been many swings in climate over the Earth's history. But the measurements of the rate of change since we started burning fossil fuels and moved into manufacturing, large scale agriculture and farming etc, is something we've never seen in our planets history. Therefore *something* must have changed and the logical implication is "man caused".

Those people who don't support education don't understand logic or science. They think that science comes up with *the* answer and that answer never changes. Sun revolves around the earth...Oops now Earth revolves around Sun. Earth is flat, Oops now Earth is not only round but measurable.  One final point, it is much easier to fall into the "it's a conspiracy" trap and throw insults when against something or something that impacts people than to dig for and understand facts. Fear mongering politicians (no names here) exploit that.

On the topic of climate change, I'm a big SciFi reader.  I recommend picking up a copy of Kim Stanley Robinson - Ministry for the Future.  Lots of things in there that we are already starting to see. And it's got a very interesting plot line....Bankers are the ones that save us from climate change! It's a good read, if hopeful and unlikely to be that easy!

8/4/24 email from LM:

I sure appreciate your climate related columns in the newspaper.  While the point of view from Kelly Kading is accurate from time to time he seems to have an ax to grind and his name calling and insulting innuendos are quite off-putting.  You have a more centered approach to this critical topic and you also provide sources in an unbiased way.    Thanks much,  

8/4/24 email from TM:  I read with interest your article published in the Courier this date. I am a retired Mechanical Engineer and facilitate an OLLI class at Yavapai College on Global Warming and Electric Energy Production. I have done some research on my own, and find the connection between CO2 emissions and global warming to be compelling. I decided to limit the class discussion to global warming, rather than including climate change, as the climate on Earth is such a complex topic. We look at a number of options for electric production that do not require the burning of fossil fuels, and I include nuclear power as a part of the recommended generation mix. I also emphasize the idea that our earth does not have unlimited capacity to absorb all the pollution we emit, and that the human species has had a significant impact on the environment, more so than any other species on earth. We all need to recognize our responsibility to be good stewards of our earth. Keep the articles coming, and hopefully we can effect a positive change!

8/5/24 email from SE:

Read your article and personally feel you are a lunatic.  You are a typical Democratic scaremonger who uses these tactics to frighten people into believing the earth is going to explode or some other nonsense idea.  You and others like you should be locked up so you can't do anymore damage to the world.

email from JC 8/5/2024:  I am delighted that you are writing the new column.

email from PG 8/4/2024: 2 QCCC Board members and leaders of the Sierra Club Yavapai Group had opinion articles on the same editorial page today! One on water; the other on climate change. That's got to be a first in Prescott, for sure. A big shout out to them both! Seriously, very proud of your accomplishments.

 email from GM 8/4/2024: Excellent job, Stephen!!  Thanks for another great column

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Response from S. Cook to several of the above; watch the column for more

thanks to everyone -- even those who don't think much of my columns!

special thanks to TB : for remarks on why we should not mine supporting public schools with out taxes and Kim Stanley Robinson book info

special thanks to TM: for teaching the OLLI class!  There is a link at top of this web page to climate change related info that I have used in classes I've taught.

special thanks to LM: yes backing up statements by citing references / sources is  important (see below response to Aug 11 rant)

response to SE:  No doubt I'm a bit crazy! FYI: I am registered as an independent. If you read my columns you'll see that I make a particular effort to provide comments from right wing / politically conservative viewpoints since many people assume I'm a radical left environmentalist. I am very much in the practical political center -- I learned long ago it's where the action is / compromise...

response to Aug 11 rant: "several debunked positions" Really? I'm skeptical. Talk is cheap and rants are limited to a few words. In the future please email me and cite sources / references that supposedly debunk info I've provided. As far as "focus-pocus" : no doubt to the scientifically illiterate lots of science-based methods / procedures and technology-based marvels (like smart phones) seem like magic!

response to Aug 13 1st rant: No doubt solar panels do kill a few birds -- just like clean windows in a building do when birds run into them Rather than doing an internet search as suggested, I went to the Audubon Society website: world's foremost science-based group supporting  birds. Here is some of what you'll find there:

from https://www.audubon.org/news/solar-power-and-birds

Audubon strongly supports properly sited photovoltaic solar power...In all the deserved excitement about solar energy, it’s important to remember that not all solar works the same way, or has the same ecological benefit. That’s why we only support photovoltaic solar, which is probably what you picture when you think of solar power. It consists of shiny black panels facing the sun, capturing light, and converting it into electricity. The other form of solar energy --concentrated solar power (CSP)-- is too dangerous for birds...

Our own science shows that unless we slow the rise of global temperatures, two-thirds of North America’s birds could face extinction. Renewable energy, like solar power, is key to reducing pollution and holding temperatures steady. This not only protects birds, but also communities that are vulnerable to the effects of climate change, which disproportionately includes communities of color.

response to Aug 13 2nd rant: Yes solar and wind power require considerable resources and there is some environmental and health impact. And work is ongoing so that increasingly solar panels and wind generator components / blades can be recycled. We aren't there yet. But in comparison to the fossil fuel alternatives wind and solar are environmentally benign.  To illustrate this comparison here's an excerpt from a review I wrote of a film by (left wing film-maker!)  Michael Moore: (complete review at https://projectworldview.org/reviewplanetofthehumans.pdf)

Imagine 40 years of operation of two 500 megawatt power plants —one solar PV and one coal fired. My back of the envelope calculation*(note 3 below) suggests all the silicon in the former would weigh around 20,000 tons. Sounds like a lot, except when you realize that once that is in place you've got it for the whole FORTY YEARS lifetime of the installation. The "fuel"— supplied by the Sun—is free. In contrast the coal-fired power plant would use 20,000 tons of fuel in the form of coal (burned at 250 tons per hour) in the first roughly FOUR DAYS (80 hours) of its operation—and keep using coal at the rate of 250 tons per hour for another 39 years and 361 days!  

response to Aug 13 2nd rant:

from https://www.audubon.org/news/wind-power-and-birds

The Audubon Society says it "strongly supports wind energy that is sited and operated properly to avoid, minimize, and mitigate effectively for the impacts on birds...While wind energy helps birds on a global scale by curbing climate change, wind power facilities can harm birds through direct collisions with turbines and other structures, including power lines. .. An estimated 140,000 to 679,000 bird deaths occur per year due to turbine collisions, which is substantial, but significantly less than deaths caused by outdoor cats and building collisions."

The above was written in 2020. I will add: 

1) since then the wind industry has taken steps to minimize turbine collisions with birds. Notably these include more carefully siting wind farms and moving toward bigger but slower moving turbines--given birds flying right into the path of revolving blades a better chance of avoiding collision.

2) The American Bird Conservancy estimates that American outdoor cats annually kill 2.4 billion birds! 

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July 21, 2024 Reader Feedback and Response

column title: Prescott Girl’s Legacy with ACC Threatened

rant from 7/28 /2024:                      

mail from GM 7/23/2024 : Great article!!

email from SG 7/21/2024: Great article!  I think versions of this article should run in the other major dailies in Flag, Phoenix area, Tucson…to educate voters on why the current commission needs to be replaced with the Dem candidates.

response to GM: Thanks. 

response to SG: Thanks so much for your praise of my article on Kris Mayes and the failings of the Arizona Corporation Commission.  FYI:  After 60 days elapse, based on the contract I signed, the article can run in other newspapers as long as it is stated that it initially appeared in the Prescott Daily Courier.  So I'd say by the end of September maybe it can get a wider readership

response to rant: see my August 4 column. And note: My column appears on the Opinion page. Newspaper Op-Ed pages typically contain lots of political related commentary. Where appropriate--like for a column about the ACC--I try to balance science and politics 

July 7, 2024 Reader Feedback and Response

column title: Prescott Planning for Future Climate Uncertainty

click here (then scroll down) to read Prescott Planning for Future Climate Uncertainty

rants and raves 7/16/2024:

rants and raves 7/14/2024:

for S. Cook response to the above rants: see the August 4 column "Rebooting Prescott Climate Dialogues" 

email from SG 7/7/2024: I read your Courier article and it is excellent!  It’s an interesting mix of climate science with backup data, and also free market principles such as your quotes by Diana Furchtgott-Roth.   This reminds me of [VS]...  She is a free market independent who used to work for APS as an attorney so is steeped in the energy utility industry, but believes in free market choice of electricity.  She says the majority of people who make their own choices about energy will choose green energy/storage.  I say this because she straddles both words, similar to your article – climate change is real, the science is unequivocal, renewable power is the greatest antidote to fossil fuel, and electricity consumers should have choice in the energy that powers their homes and businesses.  It’s a well written column!

S. Cook response to SG:  Thank you!

June 23, 2024 Reader Feedback and Response

column title: Challenging Bashar, Sedona’s UFO Cult Guru

 email from AS  7/1/ 2024:   Just a quick note of appreciation for your second column. I really got a chuckle over your story about faith and blindness. Keep it up.

S. Cook response to AS:  Glad you liked it. Thanks. 

June 9, 2024 Reader Feedback and Response

column title: Prescott Night Sky Views and Worldviews

email from AS 6/20/2024:   I just wanted you to know that, although the Courier didn't print it I had sent in the following "Rave" on your behalf in a timely manner: "Thank you, Courier, for initiating the new column 'Science Works!' I enjoyed the local perspective on astronomy presented in Stephen Cook’s first article, and I look forward to his future columns.".

email from JS  6/9/2024:    Nice job on the column about your favorite star!  Good to see it's off to a very good start! 

S. Cook response to AS:  Thank you!

S. Cook response to JS:  Thanks. 

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