Pickens Plan

[Kurt (Indiana)]

I'm curious to see what the general thoughts are regarding The Pickens Plan

It seems to me that we are shifting from one problem (oil) to another. This entire plan could yield big benefits if new (alternative) energy is actually developed.

What do you think?

I don't recall this subject coming up but if it did, please direct me to the right thread.

[cs_whypt2]

I liked watching the video. I will have to think about it for a little before I make a decision. I will show it to my teacher in my Environmental class. We will probably discuss it in class.

Thank you
Dianne

[Lgboro]

That's who I would trust....a multigabillionaire oil executive who has figured out how to extort more billions from the citizens of this country.

[cs_whypt2]

That's who I would trust....a multigabillionaire oil executive who has figured out how to extort more billions from the citizens of this country.

Why not trust him? He has enough money. Who is he going to try screwing money out of now if he has multigabillion? Becides, did you hear him at the end of the movie? He said he will be dead soon...
Just a thought...

Keep it coming Kurt

Dianne

[dreadcptflint]

Kurt,
It's strange to say this but I kind of like his plan. (I looked at it a few months ago when his ads first appeared). It's not all tree huggy nor is it all low brow, big bussiness. It has some practical points that I liked.

Matt

[swissarmygirl]

I haven't seen anyone else coming up with any plans.

[madjack]

...the thing I like about it, is it's practicality and the fact that even to me, it seems doable...ethanol is a red herring, at least when based on corn and other grains and we need SOMETHING to help all of us, stop hemorrhaging money to folks overseas, who basically hate everything about us...except taking our money......as a citizen of a state that is covered up in oil/gas wells, along with refineries and their attendant infrastructure, I have NO SYMPATHY for the NIMBY's that don't want to see oil wells off their coasts, or backyards...I KNOW, the oil can be extracted/refined safely and responsibly, so I say, drill ANYWHERE there may be oil...even ANWAR, the coasts of Cape Cod and Florida...refine methods of oil shale/sands production, put wind farms, wherever they work best, invest heavily in solar cell research, force Nevada to allow Yucca Flats to open and HELP END THIS MADNESS!!!!!!!!!!!
madjack

[Nitetimes]

...the thing I like about it, is it's practicality and the fact that even to me, it seems doable...ethanol is a red herring, at least when based on corn and other grains and we need SOMETHING to help all of us, stop hemorrhaging money to folks overseas, who basically hate everything about us...except taking our money......as a citizen of a state that is covered up in oil/gas wells, along with refineries and their attendant infrastructure, I have NO SYMPATHY for the NIMBY's that don't want to see oil wells off their coasts, or backyards...I KNOW, the oil can be extracted/refined safely and responsibly, so I say, drill ANYWHERE there may be oil...even ANWAR, the coasts of Cape Cod and Florida...refine methods of oil shale/sands production, put wind farms, wherever they work best, invest heavily in solar cell research, force Nevada to allow Yucca Flats to open and HELP END THIS MADNESS!!!!!!!!!!!
madjack

[Miriam C.]

So is natural gas is so cheap to make why does it take so much money to heat my home.

Personally that gas well at the airport is as attractive as the Eiffel tower. There is a way to make attractive extraction methods. Where are the artist when we need them........Frank Loyd Write we need you.........

[madjack]

...the attractiveness of NG is not that it is cheap(it isn't) but that we have plenty of it on our side of the pond...........

[EffieRover]

Natural gas is wonderful ... but Pickens plan involves relying on wind as a source of electricity first. Wind is notoriously UNreliable ... just recently there have been three separate electrical emergencies (brown outs of the nearly cascading failure types) in heavily wind-powered states.

Besides, Pickens OWNS most of the natural gas resources in the US. So who is he trying to fool?

[madjack]

Natural gas is wonderful ... but Pickens plan involves relying on wind as a source of electricity first. Wind is notoriously UNreliable ... just recently there have been three separate electrical emergencies (brown outs of the nearly cascading failure types) in heavily wind-powered states.

Besides, Pickens OWNS most of the natural gas resources in the US. So who is he trying to fool?

...then put forth a plan that will actually work...that is the main thing about the plan that I liked...it could actually work and is not a "chicken little" response or government funded bailout....I have been reading a lot about the conversion to a hydrogen based system(vs fossil fuels)...one of the problems is hydrogen production, which requires electricity to produce and the net gain is not high enough when using fossil fuels to produce the electricity used...using the electricity generated by wind and solar to produce hydrogen seems a very practical application for wind and solar generated electricity, but this is another of those technologies that still needs work but SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE, on a national level and the NIMBY, stick your head in the sand model will not work...I am not saying that Pickens is some kinda godsend or his plan, the end all and be all but SOMETHING REAL MUST BE DONE and it will take the collective will of all of us and that includes the NIMBY's as well......
madjack

p.s. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_economy

[EffieRover]

Bio-hydrogen. I am working with our local Chamber of Commerce to bring in several large-scale bio-digesters. They use microbes to convert cow patties into hydrogen and/or electricity, with the side product being dried, scent-free manure. Hydrogen-based cars can reduce our need ... and wind turbines can even be refitted to generate hydrogen out of a renewable resource. That's in case we run out of cow poop.

I drive a hybrid, recycle, compost, converted to compact florescent, had the house Energy Star tested and sealed, replaced electric appliances with gas, line-dry clothes even in cold weather, and live as simply as possible. Someday we hope to put in solar panels for water pre-heating as we use hot water baseboard for heat and that will reduce our use of natural gas. We also hope to put in a small windmill for our own electric use. Wind and solar tend to balance each other out - one is usually up when the other is down.

In short, I walk the walk.

[madjack]

...good for you and you also make my basic point, that we will all need to do things to help...conservation and green measures are the quickest way to have an effect on energy markets and prices but we also...collectively...must do everything we can to break the stranglehold our oil based economy has on ALL of us......
madjack

p.s. we switched to CF lights 5 yrs ago, heat with wood and keep the AC set to around 82-84 degrees...as much as I would like to add solar and/or wind power, I just can''t afford at present....but I do keep looking at it........MJ

[EffieRover]

...good for you and you also make my basic point, that we will all need to do things to help

Absolutely. My husband and I have nearly gone to fistfights talking about SUVs. He counters that people can buy what they want with their own money, like I have a big-screen TV. I reply that my TV doesn't take excess food (ethanol) and fuel away from people who need it. If you NEED a truck or SUV to do what you need to, that's one thing. But seeing some of these blinged-up, sparkly-clean things in cities and suburbs just makes me shake my head. Not that I'm gonna key somebody's car or anything, but I don't consider it a smart use of the planet's resources.

That said, our next vehicle may be a truck ... but we NEED a better cargo hauler for all the stuff we do. A small truck.

as much as I would like to add solar and/or wind power, I just can''t afford at present....but I do keep looking at it...

Ditto. We opted for a whole-house fan instead of AC. If you open & close your windows properly in the mornings and evenings, it works really well.