Overview
Article: https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2024-04-...
"PMIQ" stands for Positive, Minus, Interesting, and Question. Most, if not all, environmental geology-related issues are complex; they are neither complete positive nor completely negative. As you explore an environmental geology-related issue you will likely identify positive aspects/outcomes of this issue, negative aspects/outcomes of this issue, ideas/concepts that peak your interest about this issue, and ideas/concepts that leave you with questions. This assignment asks you to articulate those reactions.
After reading the article, you will complete a PMIQ assessment of this article by:
- Listing, in your own words and in complete sentences, two (2) Pluses ( the "P”) of the topic/ideas/arguments explored in this article? In other words, what are two positive aspects/outcomes of this issue? This does not have to be explicitly stated in the article, but could instead be ways that you envision that this issue could lead to something positive, or already has.
- Listing, in your own words and complete sentences, two (2) Minuses (the “M”) of the topic/ideas/arguments explored? In other words, what are two negative aspects/outcomes of this issue? This does not have to be explicitly stated in the article, but could instead be ways that you envision that this issue could lead to something negative, or already has.
- Listing, in your own words and complete sentences, two (2) ideas/concepts that you found Interesting (the “I”) about the topic/ideas/arguments explored.
- Listing, in your own words and complete sentences, two (2) Questions (“Q”) you have about the topic/ideas/arguments explored.
The PMIQ assessment that you will post will include:
- 2 complete “plus” sentences labeled as P1 and P2.
- 2 complete “minus” sentences labeled as M1 and M2.
- 2 complete “interesting” sentences labeled as I1 and 12.
- 2 questions labeled as Q1 and Q2.
This Week's Article https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2024-04-...
Why did I choose this article?
Our country is becoming increasingly more politically divided. These days, perhaps nothing is quite as divisive as the notion of climate change. While climate scientists across the globe agree that the climate is changing at an unprecedented rate due to the burning of fossil fuels, society at large is slow to change the energy infrastructure that has fueled our world since the industrial revolution. When you turn on the lights, you might not consider what the source of that electricity is. While some of it may be sourced from renewable energy sources, a significant amount still comes from burning coal. What is even more deceptive is these coal-fired power plants may be completely out of sight. I chose this article because it focuses on the town of Colstrip, Montana, a town built on wealth from the coal industry, that has been supplying energy to the West Coast and is now being forced with the reality that urban consumers, such as Los Angeles, no longer want to purchase energy derived from burning coal. What does a town like this do? Do they, can they, transition to renewable energy production? Will this be enough to sustain their way of life? The world, including our energy grid, is connected. What happens in one location affects another even thought it might be completely out of sight. This article explores how changing energy demands are impacting a community built on coal. .