Frederick Hewett is a freelance writer based in Cambridge and a frequent contributor to Cognoscenti. He writes mostly about climate and energy. His organizational affiliations and volunteer interests include ThirdAct.org, Charles River Watershed Association, Community Rowing, 350 Massachusetts, Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement, Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, Charles River Conservancy and School of HONK.
Recently published
Nuclear power should be part of New England's energy mix
A 100% renewable energy grid isn’t realistic in New England, given increased demand, weather and other factors, writes Frederick Hewett. We need an approach that includes nuclear power.
Why your energy bills are higher than ever
"As things stand now, ratepayers bear the cost of the transition to clean energy on top of the cost to prop up the aging gas system," writes Frederick Hewett. "The...
What ghost forests tell us about ecological belonging
Between now and the end of the century, climate change will trigger a cascade of rapid, irreversible environmental changes that will make it impossible for people to establish a sense...
Mass. authorities want to give up on solving the Charles River's sewage problem
The Charles River is a "Class B" river, meaning that it's suitable for boating and swimming, writes Frederick Hewett. But now authorities want to downgrade it so they don’t have...
As climate change wreaks havoc on the weather, Trump pursues policies that will make things worse
As someone who regards the integrity of the climate as the single most consequential matter of long-term public policy, I have found the barrage of news from Washington jarringly disconnected...
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There is no ‘national energy emergency.' Trump just wants you to think there is
Trump arrived back in office primed to deliver on his mutually beneficial relationship with the fossil fuel industry, writes Frederick Hewett. After contriving a national energy crisis, he is using...
As Greenland’s ice melts, its geopolitical importance grows
Greenland's ice is melting, opening new sea routes and yielding easier access to prized natural resources, writes Fred Hewett. The island has become a bellwether of global disruption driven by...
The 'endangerment finding' is essential to fighting climate change. Trump's EPA wants to rescind it
The endangerment finding is a long-standing precedent backed by a monumental accumulation of rigorous scientific evidence from around the globe, writes Frederick Hewett. The case that Trump’s EPA can marshal...
Public trust in science is ebbing — and will have real-world consequences
Anti-science attitudes have historically encumbered societal progress in the U.S., often with serious ramifications, writes Frederick Hewett. The scientific community is now bracing for upheaval as the Trump administration prepares...
Jimmy Carter won my vote with his inspired idealism — he’d win it again
At times throughout his presidency, political and economic circumstances forced President Carter to subordinate his impulse to protect the living world. But his accomplishments outweigh his failures, writes Frederick Hewett,...