Pickens

T. Boone Pickens is a man taking a stand for American Energy Independence. At his age and wealth, in my opinion, the only reason he is spearheading this most noteable cause is because he is passionate to help solve our nations energy crisis and to help America recapture its greatness. Mr. Pickens is at least doing something, unlike so-called leaders of this country. David Energybloggers.com

David @ 11:22 PM PDT, Aug 21, 2008

Your objections, Jerry, to the transmission of wind power have already been addressed by the Texas Public Utilities Commission, who have recently approved the upgrade and improvements to power necessary to take advantage of wind generated electricity. Other states are ready to follow suit. Secondly, were were a carbon tax imposed to let the magic of the marketplace decide, just how well do you think coal fired plants would compare to anything else - even forest fires?

Joseph Neri @ 5:06 PM PDT, Aug 21, 2008

Oh Mr. Taylor, Do they not require you to study economics before becoming a senior fellow anymore? Are you unware of the billions in subsidies to fossil fuels, or the billions more in hidden exteranlities that fossil fuel use costs. Finally are you unware that one of the key reasons for the Pickens plan is to reduce our costly foreign oil imports that are paying for terrorists to strike against us? If you really want to learn, I would be happy to elaborate further. Thanks,

Mathew @ 4:54 PM PDT, Aug 21, 2008

Pickens is mainly after water rights along the corridor he's wanting to create this wind farm on. The wind energy is secondary. He's looking to use eminent domain and tax shelters in his favor, to create a water and energy pipeline plus access the water underneath the whole mess.

Noah Scales @ 8:59 AM PDT, Aug 21, 2008

part 2. Wind/solar are both intermittent and low density. Both require storage to work and storage cost lots to build and is inefficient. Pump storage is probably the best system available and there are few places it can be employed, environmentalists don't like it, and it probably wastes 60% of the energy initially produced.

Bob Roberts @ 8:38 AM PDT, Aug 21, 2008

Natural gas is an excellent portable fuel. The infrastructure cost are low, all a fuel station needs is a tank and a "pump". NG is carried in tank trucks and pipelines everyday day. Vehicle conversion cost should be about $400 and allow for dual fuel operation. It would probably cost more initially, look back on the freon conversion process a few years ago.

Bob Roberts @ 8:38 AM PDT, Aug 21, 2008

If effective conservation incentive are not linked to energy policy, then all new efforts will be absorbed in demand. If higher energy costs reduce consumption, why not have a well crafted conservation tax that would substantially increase the price. The tax revenues collected would be returned and equally distributed among all rate payers. Those using less than the the average would receive more than they paid. Inversely if they used more than the average, they would receive less than paid. This same type tax could be applied to gas & heating oil.

Ted Gahr @ 4:15 PM PDT, Aug 20, 2008

Correction: Tom Gray (not KB) said that wind tech "hasn't improved in 1000 years" (Sorry, KB) See "maglev wind turbine" or "darrieus wind turbine"

windguy @ 2:45 PM PDT, Aug 20, 2008

Kerry Bradshaw suggested that there are "infinitely better (and cheaper) ways to make electricity"? *Infinitely* better? If wind is bad, how can solar be good? Solar/solar thermal only generate electricity where/when the sun shines. They're both renewable, which is infinitely better than the alternative. To say that wind turbines are "monstrosities" and doomed -- and then to say that solar thermal is 100 times better -- is silly. The opposite is true. Wind tech "hasn't improved in 1000 years"? See "maglev wind turbine" or "darrieus wind turbine"

windguy @ 2:43 PM PDT, Aug 20, 2008

Is wind energy reliable? Yes, and no. Can we make the wind blow when we want it to? No. Is wind power a cost-effective source of massive amounts of clean energy that can accommodate a large portion of our U.S. needs and reduce our dependence on foreign oil? Yes, absolutely. AWEA has published a factsheet: http://www.awea.org/utility/pdf/Wind_and_Reliability_Factsheet.pdf

windguy @ 2:05 PM PDT, Aug 20, 2008

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