Renewable Energy plan

[moderateamericain]

http://www.pickensplan.com/theplan/

The proposed plan states that it could cut are dependency on foreign oil by 1/3. I encourage you all to check it out.

Edited July 8, 2008 by moderateamericain

[moderateamericain]

http://www.pickensplan.com/theplan/

The proposed plan states that it could cut are dependency on foreign oil by 1/3. I encourage you all to check it out.

well i was going to be polite and let someone else have the first opinion on this matter, I thought for sure that someone would post an opinion since Renewable energy is like the hottest topic in politics in the 21st century. In my opinion we need to find some answers and fast, the government needs to push this and we need more Oil Tycoons to start worrying about there country and less about how many billions of dollars they are going to make this year. I know this doesnt solve the problem. But its a step in the right direction.

[Wild Bill]

well i was going to be polite and let someone else have the first opinion on this matter, I thought for sure that someone would post an opinion since Renewable energy is like the hottest topic in politics in the 21st century. In my opinion we need to find some answers and fast, the government needs to push this and we need more Oil Tycoons to start worrying about there country and less about how many billions of dollars they are going to make this year. I know this doesnt solve the problem. But its a step in the right direction.

Yes, it is indeed a rightful step! As a Canadian I would rather see our oil sands energy sold to Uncle Sam than Red China. It makes much more sense for North Americans to stick together. What has Saudi Arabia ever done for us?

Not meaning to derail your thread but your premise presupposes a deeper question. Perhaps we should start a separate thread debating WHY NOW?

After all, we've had spikes in gas prices many times before and we've never gotten off our collective asses to move towards independence from foreign oil. FINALLY, we seem to be doing something! Maybe clumsily and inefficiently but hey, that's how all government works.

Me, I can't help but think that someone in the White House has finally realized that giving hundreds of billions of dollars annually to an area of the world with an excess of wingnuts and fanatics might not be the best policy. How would Iran finance its own Bomb without oil money? How would Saddam have threatened Israel and his neighbours?

It takes money to command the resources to close the Straits of Hormuz. What if the West didn't need their oil? One of those countries could close the Straits and no one would care.

Sure would pull the legs out from under that nutbar running Iran.

Some critics seem to be obsessed with the failure so far to develop an oil alternative that is cheap enough for the common man. Perhaps that's not the goal. We may already be at the point where we can survive the loss of foreign oil in an emergency situation, if not very close.

Israel seems to be slowly being pushed into a first-strike against Iran's nuclear development facilities. We could argue the fine points but it doesn't matter. With the Bomb you can't count on being able to retaliate afterwards and besides, you've already got a LOT of dead innocents! After all, when someone keeps saying he's going to wipe you out you're a fool if you dismiss his words as just rhetoric. Whatever, if it happens we'll take a big hit in the volume of foreign oil available to us.

Mr. Pickens' plan seems like simple prudence.

[moderateamericain]

Yes, it is indeed a rightful step! As a Canadian I would rather see our oil sands energy sold to Uncle Sam than Red China. It makes much more sense for North Americans to stick together. What has Saudi Arabia ever done for us?

Not meaning to derail your thread but your premise presupposes a deeper question. Perhaps we should start a separate thread debating WHY NOW?

After all, we've had spikes in gas prices many times before and we've never gotten off our collective asses to move towards independence from foreign oil. FINALLY, we seem to be doing something! Maybe clumsily and inefficiently but hey, that's how all government works.

Me, I can't help but think that someone in the White House has finally realized that giving hundreds of billions of dollars annually to an area of the world with an excess of wingnuts and fanatics might not be the best policy. How would Iran finance its own Bomb without oil money? How would Saddam have threatened Israel and his neighbours?

It takes money to command the resources to close the Straits of Hormuz. What if the West didn't need their oil? One of those countries could close the Straits and no one would care.

Sure would pull the legs out from under that nutbar running Iran.

Some critics seem to be obsessed with the failure so far to develop an oil alternative that is cheap enough for the common man. Perhaps that's not the goal. We may already be at the point where we can survive the loss of foreign oil in an emergency situation, if not very close.

Israel seems to be slowly being pushed into a first-strike against Iran's nuclear development facilities. We could argue the fine points but it doesn't matter. With the Bomb you can't count on being able to retaliate afterwards and besides, you've already got a LOT of dead innocents! After all, when someone keeps saying he's going to wipe you out you're a fool if you dismiss his words as just rhetoric. Whatever, if it happens we'll take a big hit in the volume of foreign oil available to us.

Mr. Pickens' plan seems like simple prudence.

I have to agree with most of your assesment. I believe that people really don't care about solving the issue. The simply use it as a political "club" to further there own ends. I believe one of two things needs to happen Americans need to either grass roots a movement towards clean energy or The oil Tycoons need to use there considerable profits (or a portion of it) and do something for others then themselves. What could they possible want in this world that they couldnt already afford? The first is more likely but only when we reach the breaking point the second is only likely if and when we we reach a breaking point. Either way its most likely tough times ahead.

[Topaz]

I saw an interview with Pickens and the interviewer asked if he had talked the Bush about his idea and he said he did and Bush said he think about but Pickens said he never heard from Bush and from his answers he really doesn't like Bush's way of handling the environment issues. I think we should try another that helps the environment and I'm sure alot of people out there can come up with the ideas but will the governments want to do them??

[moderateamericain]

I saw an interview with Pickens and the interviewer asked if he had talked the Bush about his idea and he said he did and Bush said he think about but Pickens said he never heard from Bush and from his answers he really doesn't like Bush's way of handling the environment issues. I think we should try another that helps the environment and I'm sure alot of people out there can come up with the ideas but will the governments want to do them??

http://money.cnn.com/2008/07/09/news/econo...oney_topstories

this shows the limited way the government is looking at solutions. Non of these address long term issues.

[GostHacked]

Each family can do the same .... get rid of one car.

[Wild Bill]

Each family can do the same .... get rid of one car.

Wish I could! With the state of public transit in my town it simply would not be possible, let alone practical.

Everybody always makes that suggestion yet I've never seen someone in a position where they can do it!

I guess I just don't get out much.

[moderateamericain]

Wish I could! With the state of public transit in my town it simply would not be possible, let alone practical.

Everybody always makes that suggestion yet I've never seen someone in a position where they can do it!

I guess I just don't get out much.

Not to mention it does nothing to solve the long term problem of reliance on foreign oil. Its sort of like cutting off your head to eliminate a headache.

[Shady]

Each family can do the same .... get rid of one car.

Meaningless symbolism.

The future of energy will be a result of new technology. As for the present and near future, I'm with T. Boone, drill for natural gas, drill off-shore, drill in ANWR, as well as nuclear, wind and solar.

[bush_cheney2004]

Meaningless symbolism.

The future of energy will be a result of new technology. As for the present and near future, I'm with T. Boone, drill for natural gas, drill off-shore, drill in ANWR, as well as nuclear, wind and solar.

Agreed..there is no shortage of energy....the issue is economics. If our days of cheap energy are truly over, then we shall have an era of not-so-cheap energy....but always "energy".

[GostHacked]

Meaningless symbolism.

The future of energy will be a result of new technology. As for the present and near future, I'm with T. Boone, drill for natural gas, drill off-shore, drill in ANWR, as well as nuclear, wind and solar.

Actually it is not meaningless. If everyone is worrying about higher gas prices, why not get rid of some of the uneeded items that use expensive gas. If you can get away with one vehicle instead of two, I encourage it. Think of it this way: You will save quite a bit of money if that happens. Sell the car. Sure you are going to loose on the initial purchase,,, but that is a car for you. Next you will save money on insurance. Which also means you save money on gas, and regular maitanence. You will also save on expensive repairs, like if you got into a car accident.

Don't wait for the oil industry to change so you can change. Make the changes happen with you first. Then you will see what happens down the road. Someone has to take the initiative. It won't be the oil tycoons.

The way to make the energy producers rethink their strategies is to not give them the money. Once they see the money not flowing in (or as much as it used to) they will think of new ways to make money. If one of these avenues is in new renewable energy, then money will be made and people will be happy.

I have not owned a vehicle in 7 years. I take the bus to work. I do miss the convenience of a car, but the amount of money I am able to put towards other things is so noticeable, I doubt I will ever go back to owning a car. And if I really need a car, like for a trip, I will rent one.

Speaking of cars, I thought this was quite dumb/hilarious/odd.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ev1

http://www.technologyreview.com/Energy/18042/

http://www.chevrolet.com/electriccar/

GM is pimping out it's new eletric vehicle. Chevrolet Volt, will be an electric vehicle powered by lithium-ion batteries backed by a small gas engine that can get about 60KMs on a charge. Compare this with the EV1 that GM produced in the mid 90's with lead acid batteries and no back up gas engine. that got over 250kms on a charge.

GM is now saying that it is working with the utilitiy companies to get the infrastructure in place to put up charging stations across the country. So why did they not start 10 years ago when they made the first electric vehicle?

It is also interesting to note that while on the Chevy website they claim that for someone that drives under 40 miles a day, the car is perfect for them which will produce sero emissions. This will meet the majority of our demands on how much we can use the vehicle in a day. The EV1 did more than that, and it did not need a gas engine helper.

The new Volt used a standard wall outlet to charge the car. The EV1 did that as well. One of the reasons GM stated that it discontinued the car, was that it would not make money on it. So back to oil burning cars.

le edit

So, decrease your dependancy on foreing oil by one third, get rid of that extra vehicle or two.

Edited July 23, 2008 by GostHacked

[jdobbin]

The proposed plan states that it could cut are dependency on foreign oil by 1/3. I encourage you all to check it out.

I'm sure Pickens will receive a quick "swiftboating." It is something he should be intimately knowledgeable about.

[Moonlight Graham]

Not meaning to derail your thread but your premise presupposes a deeper question. Perhaps we should start a separate thread debating WHY NOW?

After all, we've had spikes in gas prices many times before and we've never gotten off our collective asses to move towards independence from foreign oil. FINALLY, we seem to be doing something! Maybe clumsily and inefficiently but hey, that's how all government works.

This isn't a price spike. Oil is at a record high. In fact unless i'm mistaken i don't believe oil has ever been over $100 a barrel until late last year. Now pair this with the recent mass concern over climate change and you have youself a major issue.

[GostHacked]

Wish I could! With the state of public transit in my town it simply would not be possible, let alone practical.

Everybody always makes that suggestion yet I've never seen someone in a position where they can do it!

I guess I just don't get out much.

I am actually a great example of loosing the dependancy of the car. It was tough at first to adjust. But I thought about the money I am not spending, and I got over it soon enough.

You are right about public transportation. It is great in large metropolitan centers. I live in Ottawa and the bus service here is pretty damn good. I get to work on time and not stressed because I don't have to deal with many of the idiot drivers out there. Also there are many lanes dedicated for busses. Even a dedicated transit route that only the busses go on. It is not like this everywhere though.

I used to live in Sudbury ON. The bus service there was almost non existant. And in that case I did need a car.

[Wild Bill]

I am actually a great example of loosing the dependancy of the car. It was tough at first to adjust. But I thought about the money I am not spending, and I got over it soon enough.

You are right about public transportation. It is great in large metropolitan centers. I live in Ottawa and the bus service here is pretty damn good. I get to work on time and not stressed because I don't have to deal with many of the idiot drivers out there. Also there are many lanes dedicated for busses. Even a dedicated transit route that only the busses go on. It is not like this everywhere though.

I used to live in Sudbury ON. The bus service there was almost non existant. And in that case I did need a car.

Sonuvagun! Someone who actually COULD give up his car because he had access to public transit that actually WORKED!

Not in my town! It just isn't there.

You remind me of how when I was a kid there were ads in the back of comic books advertising a "$50 Jeep!" from army surplus mail order outfits. This appeared to be a mythical item, as no one had actually seen such a vehicle, despite all the advertising.

[GostHacked]

You remind me of how when I was a kid there were ads in the back of comic books advertising a "$50 Jeep!" from army surplus mail order outfits. This appeared to be a mythical item, as no one had actually seen such a vehicle, despite all the advertising.

I really wanted the X-Ray specs. Too see through clothes. As a growing boy, I was curious about the girls. .

I have also had a couple friends who ditched their cars for the bus. A couple still have vehicles, but they don't use them as much. My one pal found out how much cheaper it was to take the bus than to drive his car to work and pay for parking. He also found some time to read. And because he saved some money, he bought a fantastic new guitar.