Pickens Plan District Group FL-20

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Comment by Renee Klink on April 2, 2009 at 8:53am

Thanks to all of you who have taken action in the Virtual March so far! It’s Day Two, and the focus today is on oil imports -- the March 2009 numbers show we imported 65 percent of the oil we used -- so let’s contact our Members of Congress again today about reducing America’s dependency on foreign oil. You can do this by phone, of course, and we have also set up links to e-mail Congress or contact your members via Facebook and Twitter about today's issue.

When you’ve done this, please leave a note here on our group page to let other members know you’ve taken action, and tell us if you received any information or feedback from the members’ offices.

Also, if you are a business owner or part of an organization that would like to take part in the Virtual March, please let me know and we’ll recognize you as a partner on the Pickens Plan Virtual March page!

Comment by Renee Klink on April 1, 2009 at 1:07pm

The first day of the three-day Pickens Plan Virtual March on Washington is here!

Among other actions, I’m encouraging everyone to send a single e-mail today, tomorrow, and Friday. It’s a simple thing to do, but it has tremendous impact.

Click here to ask Congress and President Obama to support the NAT GAS Act of 2009.

Thank you for your support.

Comment by amy oconnor on March 16, 2009 at 7:50pm

Anyone know if they tweaked the site yet so we can post 1 comment to Multiple groups at the same time ? I have asked several times and the interns claim to be looking into it but i have never received a response

Comment by amy oconnor on March 16, 2009 at 7:47pm

From: Union of Concerned Scientists
Citizens and Scientists for Environmental Concerns


Support Renewable Energy in the South

Despite the claims of many Southern members of Congress, the South has abundant renewable energy resources--from plant materials, animal wastes, and new turbines on existing dams to solar and localized wind resources. Southeastern states have enough clean energy resources to provide 50 percent of the region’s current electricity needs while creating new jobs and income, saving consumers money, and reducing global warming pollution.

A national renewable electricity standard (RES) would require utilities to develop or buy renewable energy sources, such as those the South has in abundance. As Congress considers a national RES, please sign on to a letter that UCS is circulating with Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE), and urge your legislators to stop dismissing the South’s renewable resources and to start supporting policies that the South sorely needs like the RES.

http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/solutions/renewable_energy_solutions/SACE.html

Take Action Now

Sincerely,
Ben Larson


Ben Larson
National Field Organizer
Clean Energy Program

(Text of the Letter follows)


Dear Majority Leader Reid and Speaker Pelosi:

We are renewable energy business owners, farmers, forest owners, academics, conservation advocates, and economic development agents writing in support of a national renewable electricity standard (RES). Increasing renewable electricity generation throughout our country will enhance national energy security by diversifying our sources of electric generation. As the United States continues to increase energy imports, an RES can help make America and the Southeast less dependent on foreign energy sources. Harnessing the Southeast’s renewable energy resources will benefit our region by creating jobs and helping to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. We urge you to support a robust RES of 25 percent by 2025 that will help unleash the Southeast’s renewable energy potential and position our region as a leader in our country’s transition to a clean energy economy.

An RES is a market-based mechanism that requires electric utilities to include a specific percentage of clean, renewable energy in their generation portfolios. In addition to producing renewable energy in their service areas, electric utilities can purchase renewable energy credits (RECs) from other producers. However, the Southeast has abundant renewable energy resources to help meet a national standard that include significant quantities of sustainably-harvested biomass as well as hydropower (incremental and ocean/tidal), wind, solar (PV and thermal) and landfill gas.

The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy’s analysis of renewable energy potential in the Southeast shows that states in this region have enough bioenergy, solar, wind (onshore and offshore), hydro-electric and geothermal resources to meet a strong RES of 25 percent by 2025. Furthermore, the Southeast has sufficient renewable energy resources to meet high interim targets, such as 20 percent by 2020. Forests and farms, for example, across the region already produce a variety of biomass feedstocks to co-fire, gasify or combust in high efficiency boilers. According to the best available data (Idaho National Laboratory, 1998), the Southeast has the potential to generate 2,500-3,500 megawatts by increasing energy production at existing hydro-electric power stations and by adding generators to existing dams that do not have generators. Both kinds of new hydroelectric generation are eligible under the RES. Similarly, solar and wind energy resources, which are often overlooked in this region, are actually widely distributed throughout the Southeast. Offshore wind in the Gulf of Mexico and the South Atlantic is a significant resource that we have not yet begun to draw upon. In addition, the solar photovoltaic potential of the Southeast rivals some of the best resources in the country, yet the region is far behind in deploying these commercially available technologies. Advanced tidal, wave power and geothermal technologies are also being explored as potential renewable resources that can displace fossil fuels as our primary sources of energy. However, even without offshore wind, SACE analysis shows that the Southeast could obtain more than 35 percent of its electricity from renewable resources within the next 10-15 years. A national RES creates a market for these renewable technologies to grow and revitalize our region’s faltering economy.

A national RES will create new jobs and provide new economic opportunity throughout the Southeast. A Renewable Energy Action Project report found that a national RES has the potential to create more than 32,000 new jobs in the Southeast in wind and solar technologies alone. By selling farm and forest residues to power plants, landowners stand to earn between $9.9 and $15.8 billion by 2020, according to analysis by the Union of Concerned Scientists. New markets for farm and forest biomass will create additional income for farmers and forest owners, renewing their communities as well.

By developing the Southeast’s local resources, the RES will decrease our region’s reliance on imported energy sources and keep more of our energy dollars at home. An Energy Information Administration report found that in 2006 the Southeast received 94 percent of its electric energy from fossil fuel and nuclear power, energy sources that by and large had to be imported. In fact, Southeastern states spent $7.3 billion in 2005 to purchase coal from outside our region, including spending over $700 million to import coal from Venezuela, Colombia and Poland.

Our desire to be energy independent is nothing new. The Southeast has a rich history of independence, leadership and a strong rural character. In recent decades, our Main Streets and our rural communities have become vacant, but we are not resigned to that fate. We believe that our strong network of research universities, entrepreneurs, dedicated renewable energy professionals and conservation-oriented communities will come together to rejuvenate these devastated areas. Renewable energy production from a variety or natural renewable resources is one way we can empower our communities, reduce our fossil fuel consumption, mitigate climate change and join the rest of the United States in making our country an international leader in renewable energy.

Please support a robust national renewable electricity standard. We look forward to working with you on this important issue.

Sincerely,

The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy

Comment by Jeff Greene on March 14, 2009 at 4:07pm

Hey everyone!

Great showing at the March 13th Clean Cities Coalition meeting. For those of you that missed it, the Coalition was joined by Florida Electric Auto Association and TECO-Peoples Gas joined as an Emerald Sponsor. Our membership is set to grow exponentially as we have embraced the rest of the State, not currently under a coalition, for grant purposes.

Meetings are attended currently by advocates of CNG, Electric, Ethanol, Propane and Bio-Diesel. It was discussed at the meeting that we have a common goal and thus should work collectively to achieve energy independence and reduce our dependence on oil. Each group is passionate about their respective cause and I urge each of you to respect the opinions of all members and prospective members.

If you have not yet joined the Coalition, I have attached an application which can be returned by mail, email or bring it to the next meeting. If you require an invoice to get a check approval please let me know. Larry is checking into the ability to accept credit cards but we are not able to accept them currently.

For our out of town members, the addition of a web-based access to the meeting is being explored and results will be brought to the April 10th meeting.

I urge you to support this organization and I welcome any comments or suggestions as to how we can improve the coalition.

The following letter was sent out by Hollywood Commissioner and Gold Coast Clean Cities Chairwoman Patty Asseff:

RE: Stimulus Related Funding for Deployment of Alternative Energy and Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emission

“I am informing you of funding opportunities that are now available. As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Stimulus Bill), Congress appropriated over $700 million dollars that will be used to advance conversions to alternative fuel/green energy. Three hundred million of the $700 million can only be accessed through a partnership with a Clean Cities Coalition.

The Federal government is making available funding to supplement the cost of converting vehicle fleets as well as the installation of alternative fuel infrastructure for governmental entities and residents of your community. In addition, the Environment Protection Agency has been appropriated by Congress through the Diesel Engine Reduction Act funding for engines that do not meet the Federal Standards.

These opportunities have varying deadlines and are generally best awarded through regional efforts and coalitions of municipalities, counties, school boards, and business working together.

We invite you and your staff to our next Florida Gold Coast Clean Cities meeting, which will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, March 13, 2009, at the offices of the South Florida Regional Planning Council located at 3440 Hollywood Boulevard, Suite 140. We also meet the 2nd Friday of each month.

In addition, if you have any questions or require additional assistance, you may contact Larry Allen at 954-985-4416”

Respectfully,


Patty Asseff
Chair,




Jeff Greene
Wise Gas, Inc.
3700 NW 124th Ave, Ste 131, Coral Springs, FL 33065
Phone: (954)-636-4291 Fax: (954)-874-6089
Email: jeff@wisegasinc.com
Web: www.wisegasinc.com

Comment by Jeff Greene on March 5, 2009 at 2:41pm

March 5, 2009


Mr. Jeff Greene
3700 NW 124th Ave Ste 131
Coral Springs, FL 33065-2455

Dear Mr. Greene:

Thank you for contacting my office regarding renewable energy. Your opinions on this issue are very important to me, and I appreciate the opportunity to respond.

As you may know, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 1) included many provisions that directly address your concerns. This legislation increases renewable energy production and provides incentives to renovate public buildings to make them more energy efficient. It also provides a total of $30 billion for such initiatives as a new, smart power grid, advanced battery technology, and energy efficiency measures, which will create nearly 500,000 jobs.

This legislation provides grants of up to 30 percent of the cost of building a new renewable energy facility to address current renewable energy credit market concerns. It promotes energy-efficient investments in homes by extending and expanding tax credits through 2010 for purchases such as new furnaces, energy-efficient windows and doors, or insulation. Finally, it establishes a new manufacturing investment tax credit for investment in advanced energy facilities, such as facilities that manufacture components for the production of renewable energy, advanced battery technology, and other innovative next-generation green technologies. All of these important initiatives will create jobs and will contribute to our efforts to change our nation's energy policy.

Furthermore, the 2008 Farm Bill (H.R. 2419) included investments in affordable biofuels and increased oversight on market manipulation. The Energy Independence and Security Act (H.R. 6), passed in 2007, established a market manipulation ban and new vehicle mileage standards for all passenger vehicles and light trucks to 35 mpg by 2020. The America COMPETES Act (H.R. 2272), also passed in 2007, invested in new research and development of clean energy technologies. The combination of these bills passed in the previous Congress, along with what we are currently working on in this session of Congress, will lead America in a new direction on energy policy.

As you know, T. Boone Pickens, himself an oil man, recognized the need for energy independence and has led a very high-profile campaign to employ a plan for reduce our dependency on foreign oil and invest in alternative energies. Included in his plan is the use of the wind energy potential in the Great Plains States, the use of natural gas and bio-fuels for domestic transportation, and the use of other forms of fuel for generating electricity, including clean coal technologies and nuclear power. As Pickens understands, the Obama Administration will have to make energy independence a clear priority to our national security and environmental health into the future, and I admire these efforts. As a staunch supporter for the development of alternative fuels and efforts to ensure our energy security, I will work with this Administration and the leadership in Congress to ensure we move forward with efforts to make America energy independent. I will stand with President Obama as he moves toward real bipartisan long-term energy policy that truly moves our nation into 21st century energy independence.

Thank you again for taking the time to write. Please feel free to contact me with any additional questions you may have or anytime I may be of assistance to you. If you would like to be updated on these and other issues, please stop by my website (www.wexler.house.gov) and sign up for my electronic newsletter. I hope you will find these tools to be valuable resources in keeping up with events in Washington and South Florida.

With warm regards,

Robert Wexler
Member of Congress

Comment by Renee Klink on March 4, 2009 at 10:12am

Hi district members, have you signed up for the Virtual March on Washington yet? It's April 1-3. We want to continue to have an impact on how the Administration formulates American energy policy, and the Army will focus its energy during those three days on e-mails, calls and faxes to every Member of Congress.

Click here for more information about the Virtual March! And let's all make the commitment to recruit 10 other people to take part, too.

Comment by amy oconnor on March 3, 2009 at 7:41pm

From Gov. Crist's State of the State Message:

" This administration is committed to a diverse energy supply that balances solar, wind and nuclear. Last year’s energy bill was made possible by the strong support of our departed friend Representative Stan Mayfield. Stan’s vision for Florida continues. Thank you, Representative Debbie Mayfield for your courage and leadership in seeing Stan’s vision. We have a chance to diversify our energy supply and I urge the members in this chamber to pass this important legislation."

You can read the bill here -

http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=39607&SessionIndex=-1&SessionId=57&BillText=energy&BillNumber=&BillSponsorIndex=69&BillListIndex=0&BillStatuteText=&BillTypeIndex=0&BillReferredIndex=0&HouseChamber=H&BillSearchIndex=-1

We should contact our Legislature and ask them to pass this bill

Comment by Jeff Greene on February 26, 2009 at 2:51pm

Ok. I am starting to feel like I am talking to myself in this group. 8 of the last 10 posts and 2 of 3 discussions with no reply. I have talked to our political leaders, 4 speaking engagements in March and 13 presentations. If I have time to get on here and post, you do too. Go out and find 5 neighbors or email 5 neighbors and tell them to join and be active, if you don't have time find someone you know that does have time and get them on here. We are pushing for visibility and having T Boone in town should have gone a long way towards getting our numbers up. spread the word and get people signed up!

Comment by Jeff Greene on February 20, 2009 at 1:28am

Latest form letter from Senator Bill Nelson

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