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October 13, 2008 at 00:04:14
T. Boone Pickens Green Energy Plan - Natural Gas The Modern Day Trojan Horse by Joe Eichler Page 1 of 1 page(s) |
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America has reached a crossroads in energy. Several plans have been offered for dealing with this crisis but none have received the publicity that the T. Boone Pickens plan has. Selecting an alternative fuel source needs to be balanced with cautious planning when moving toward such a drastic change in domestic energy policy. Recent events have revealed that in dealing with crisis our leadership has taken a reactionary approach rather than careful planning and regard for proper oversight. While the proposal put forth by T. Boone Pickens has at the surface all the appearances of a comprehensive plan, we should consider all the ramifications of adopting such a energy plan specifically when someone who is so closely tied to the oil industry proposes it. Pelosi, Nancy "Financial Disclosure Report for Calendar Year 2007," 15 May 2008. Wildemuth, John "Pelosi's husband prefers a low profile; Successful investor has taken care to avoid causing controversy," San Francisco Chronicle 1 Jan 2007. Clean Energy Fuels Corp. "Prospectus" on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission 21 May 2008. Consumer Federation of California "CFC Opposes Proposition 10 - Vote No on this $10 billion dollar boondoggle" undated position paper. Accessed 20 Aug 2008. Editorial: "Prop. 10 looks 'green' but it's the wrong shade" San Jose Mercury News 28 July 2008. Woodyard, Chris “Natural-gas powered cars – Who even knows they exist?” USA Today July 5th 2007.
Pickens is the driving force behind Clean Energy Fuels, a publicly traded green energy company that spent $3 million to put Proposition 10 on the ballot in California. The company is the US' largest provider of natural gas for transportation. Many of the proposed natural gas vehicles would use their facilities. This billionaire oilman turned point man for alternative energy is also the force behind the proposition, the initiative on this November ballot that proposes $5 billion in bonds to develop alternative energy markets. As it happens, he and several Congressmen including Nancy Pelosi would personally profit from its passage.
A multi-faceted approach to solving the energy needs of the U.S. is certainly the right approach; however, insuring that those steps will actually be followed through needs governmental oversight. The lack of the oil industry to invest in refinery assets in desperate need of repair in the face of record profits prove the necessity for new strict oversight. Tax incentives requiring such investment in refinery asset improvement as well as exploration and domestic production increases should be implemented rather than allowing these profits to be used to drive crude oil pricing by hedging positions in the unregulated futures markets.
The Pickens’ plan includes as a “pie in the sky” comprehensive approach the promise of wind generation as well as solar generation provisions but the primary emphasis is placed on natural gas. Moving to a natural gas centered energy economy would impact the unregulated resource markedly. The price of natural gas will increase with the adoption of this plan forcing extreme pressure on the utility markets potentially raising home heating bills – remember ENRON. How will the shift to natural gas affect the natural gas export markets? Will the government come clean about the myth that there are no exports of domestically produced natural gas and crude?
A provision in the “Bail Out Bill” that was signed into law just this past week allocates some $25 Billion for automakers with few strings attached. The plan only requires the money be spent to retool and develop fuel-efficient technology for vehicles. Since the auto-manufacturers have already spent millions in developing fuel-efficient technology this would free up bailout funds to be used as they see fit. Keep in mind that General Motors already manufactures natural gas vehicles but they are not available in the US. GM instead exports that product line to Europe, Asia, South America and elsewhere, just not in the USA. At an auto show in Switzerland General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner discussed GM's efforts to improve foreign markets for their natural gas product line in March. If there is a natural gas vehicle already in production why is the taxpayer on the hook to have it produced for the US market and where is the justification of the dollars required to do this?
GM has not been forthcoming and fair with the US consumer. GM was involved in the scandal surrounding the EV1-the electric car that was secretly shredded after California lifted its’ zero emissions mandate in the 1990s. The EV1, a plug-in car, was capable of 110 miles on a single charge. Many Hollywood types such as Tom Hanks were given the opportunity to test the vehicle over a two-year period as part of a GM sponsored lease program. When the lease expired the cars were returned to GM and subsequently destroyed. GM citing the vehicle was too expensive to manufacture denied several celebrity end-of-lease purchase attempts. As a side note to the EV1 debacle there was new battery technology developed which GM acquired ownership of. When the EV1 program was squashed the technology was sold to Texaco Oil. It seems doubtful the advances in this particular battery technology will ever surface again. GM now touts the Volt – a concept plug-in hybrid not yet available for purchase – as the successor to the EV1. Remarkably the so-called successor reportedly gets a measly 40 miles on a charge.
One thing is abundantly clear, the American people are being victimized and held hostage by this current leadership with their allegiance to lobbies. Dignitaries tell us that they know what is best for the country. The absolute truth is there are no absolute truths rather only convenient truths. Anyone who believes that the future of this country and our economic health can be managed by people who profess their un-biased opinons and proposals needs to remember one thing – we the people, voted for change in the last election. We were promised quick solution up to impeachment of those who mishandled their power under the Constitution and rather than up-holding their oath in office they have also trampled on the most important document that binds this country. It is time for change – vote against every incumbent in office. Let’s take back our country and change the faces in Washington and in our state governments.
Sources:
www.connectfriend.com
Way left of right but not too left of center-a moderate progressive.
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Pickens
T. Boone also owns the water rights under the 200,000 square acres where he put up his windmills in Texas. Guess who wins when we start battling over water? by Jay Timmins (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 113 comments [5 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Monday, Oct 13, 2008 at 8:24:27 PM  (0+)
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It's the American way!
It's all about money ain't a damn thing funny, got to have a car in this land of milk and honey... The thing is, if a billionaire thinks he can profit by putting billions into wind farms, it's going to happen. The technology and the energy markets are at a point where it is possible to make money on non-polluting energy. Obviously it would be better if we had a society where decisions of this importance were made by and for the people, but that's not the American way. We need to have enough wind, tidal, solar, and biomass electricity produced to eliminate coal, oil, and nukular power plants. Gas is still fossil fuel, but as long as we burn fossils for heat and transportation, it is still cleaner than oil, and abundant on this continent. At least the methane from trash and sewage should be used as fuel, because it is 19 times stronger a greenhouse gas than CO2. Making non-polluting electricity on a gigantic scale NOW is imperative. Continuing global warming will make those pingo-like-formations POP, and the methane hydrates boil to the surface of the ocean, a positive feedback loop followed by a holocaust this world hasn't seen the likes of for 55 million years. Nobody wants to give up electricity. The world would be much better off if we just used the technology available now to stop producing it in a 19th century way. Maybe T. Boone has grandchildren? by Clark (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 45 comments [3 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Monday, Oct 13, 2008 at 8:37:48 PM (0+)
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Dear Joe
My hat goes off to you for this article. I thought about writing one about it myself. Prop 10 would give T Bone a monopoly on all of California's energy setting us up from another debacle like the one we got from Pete Wilson, costing Californians billions in energy costs and costing Gray Davis his seat in a diabolic recall election sponsored by republicans and their Texas energy corporation cronies. There is yet another canard in the making concerning alternative energy on the California ballot. Prop 7, which comes off as a pro solar effort that in fact puts other solar and altenative energy companies out of business. It also allows power providers to charge 10% over market rates. In a state like California where so many people are and have been pro alternative energy, my biggest fear is they will buy into this crap just as they did so many years ago when Pete Wilson told everyone that deregulating the energy markets of California would provide cheaper energy to Californians. Thanks to your article perhaps with some luck this won't happen. by Michael Shaw (12 articles, 1 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 439 comments [16 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Monday, Oct 13, 2008 at 8:58:07 PM (0+)
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great article
I agree with the sediment but Pickens is not out to make more cash imo. After looking closely at this subject it seems he is on the up-and-up and really wants to do something positive to help. Besides the very heavy emphasis on LNG for running mostly trucks and busses trucks and the windmill farms; he is also apparently looking to fund some alternative "free energy" technologies as well; which have been strangely ignored and suppressed by both the media and our universities.... He has replied in person to someone regarding this who contacted him on his website; stating he will fund a plan for free energy. So i feel the jury is still out on T. Boone... He can really make a SERIOUS difference if he does embrace and fund some free energy technologies.. Like hydroxy, (water fuel), and some others such as magnetic motors and pulse-created "overunity" aetheric / ZPE power. Such technologies are in their infancies, being studied for the most part only by amateurs on shoe-string budgets... But despite this the inventors and tinkerers of the Open Source Energy movement have made some significant and very promising progress in creating clean, cheap, and abundant energy for all. by Steve Windisch (jibbguy) (17 articles, 0 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 360 comments [54 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Oct 14, 2008 at 3:08:52 PM (0+)
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Reply: Well Steve
there is no doubt we need alternative energy now and everywhere, not just California. but is it wise to hand over a monopoly to one guy? I say no! by Michael Shaw (12 articles, 1 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 439 comments [16 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Oct 22, 2008 at 2:59:29 PM (0+)
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