Picken's $700 Billion Plan

[Poahi]

I understand he has his own selfish interests here, but no one - no politician, no presidential candidate, no one has a realistic plan to reduce energy costs, and if nothing is done, our industry will be a small fraction of what it is today.

Will it work? I don't know, but if I find a way to convert my car to natural gas, I'll do it today.

If you haven't heard, he's proposing wind, solar, natural gas, coal and other sources which will be used to free up oil for things like airplanes.

See for yourself:

http://www.pickensplan.com/

 

[blueridge71]

From what I've read, solar and wind simply aren't cost effective at this point. The next generation of solar/wind technology might be better, but at this point it is not ready.

What is ready is nuclear power, clean coal, and coal gasification. If we build more nuclear power plants in particular, we can make electricity cheap and practical enough to inspire homeowners to change from heating oil to electricity. Likewise, Tesla Motors (http://www.teslamotors.com/), builder of an electric sports car, is currently working on an electric minivan. As oil continues to rise in price and the prices of electric cars fall (due to manufacturing more), electric cars will also become more attractive to consumers.

To keep our economy from imploding in the meantime, we need to start drilling domestically everywhere we can immediately. Converting coal to gas, a process that has been around since WWII, is also becoming more cost effective and could help to increase oil supplies.

 

[humuakalaka]

Actually, wind (with a production tax credit) is competitive with coal. Part of Pickens' plan is to extend the PTC out to 10 years as opposed to the 2 or 3 year increments that Congress currently authorizes it. 2 or 3 year increments plays havoc with the economics of wind projects because the lead time for developing one is right around two or three years. As soon as Congress re-authorizes the PTC, there is a run on everything related to getting a wind project going. Demand spikes for everything wind-related (turbines, legal services, environmental assessments, etc) and the price for all of those things skyrockets which makes wind projects much less appealing as an investment. Extending the PTC to 10 years eliminates these spikes in demand and makes the economics of wind projects better.

 

[jonjuan]

I understand he has his own selfish interests here, but no one - no politician, no presidential candidate, no one has a realistic plan to reduce energy costs, and if nothing is done, our industry will be a small fraction of what it is today.

No kidding. I just wish it were some homless person with AIDS who would get us out of this situation.

 

[Soverytired]

1. Right message, wrong messenger.

2. "Don't let the solution be the enemy of the good."

--- Drill, wind, solar, nuke, shale oil, coal gassification . . . do them all! Right now nothing is being done because every group has their pet solution and hates everyone else's. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

 

[Poahi]

No kidding. I just wish it were some homless person with AIDs who would get us out of this situation.

Well, if it's any consolation, he can't seem to spell solar. (see video - it may be a Texas thing)

 

[Soverytired]

1. Right message, wrong messenger.

2. "Don't let the solution be the enemy of the good."

2. "Don't let he PERFECT solution be the enemy of a GOOD solution"

(oops.)

 

[Max Powers]

Wind works better than coal. When you look 20 years down the road not the usual 5 most americans do.

Also another problem is high voltage transmission lines are needed to bring the wind power out from the plains of SD, ND, MN etc into the cities of the midwest. This takes time and money but in the long run a windmill is many times cheaper and better than having to constantly dig coal out of the ground, transport it and use it to boil water which then turns a turbine.

 

[DAS at 10/250]

Well, if it's any consolation, he can't seem to spell solar. (see video - it may be a Texas thing)

Pretty sure he graduated Oklahoma State University.

 

[blzr]

Wind works better than coal. When you look 20 years down the road not the usual 5 most americans do.

Also another problem is high voltage transmission lines are needed to bring the wind power out from the plains of SD, ND, MN etc into the cities of the midwest. This takes time and money but in the long run a windmill is many times cheaper and better than having to constantly dig coal out of the ground, transport it and use it to boil water which then turns a turbine.

You have a point, but you still have to have a back-up to the wind and solar in-case there is a disruption such as no wind on a calm day in the Midwest, or the occasional hailstorm that would damage solar panels.

Massachusetts has tried to harness the wind offshore, Mr. Irrelevant, Ted Kennedy shot that one down. Windmills are like prisons, everyone knows we need them, just not near my house.