Cowboys for Pickens Plan

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Comment by Terry Suellentrop on July 10, 2008 at 7:17am

I'm with Boone on this... we need action to solve our dependence on foreign energy. Politicians won't get it done, the private sector can. The politicians will get on board when they see that votes are at stake if they don't. Join the OSU Cowboys for Pickens Plan and let's make an Oklahoma difference.

Comment by Coral Williams on July 10, 2008 at 3:57am

As an OSU grad I feel this is the group I need to be part of in this endeavor.

Comment by Mark E. Thompson on July 9, 2008 at 12:52pm

Below are my thoughts on Alternative Energy Investments in Oklahoma by our Private Energy and Production companies.



Background:

Oklahoma has a wonderful opportunity to invest in wind-power production and other alternative energy within our state’s borders. It is noted by AWEA at the end of 2007 Oklahoma currently ranks 7th in the U.S. in the total amount of installed wind-power in production. Texas ranks #1 with 4,000 MW in production and Oklahoma is 7th with 600 MW in production. The Federal government has given the developers and investors of wind-power a wonderful opportunity to help offset the costs of the initial wind-power project investment by almost 70% of the total initial fixed cost. These incentives are currently $.019 KWh Production Tax Credit (PTC), $.015 KWh REC’s (Renewable Energy Credits), and 5 year double declining balance accelerated depreciation allowing you to fully deprecate your equipment within 6 years of installation.



Oklahoma’s Energy and Production (E&P) companies have enjoyed tremendous success over the past 5 years as energy prices have allowed our E&P companies to invest a tremendous amount of money into finding new sources of oil & natural gas in the state of Oklahoma. Our revenue from oil and natural gas production has hit record levels; however, our total barrel production output of oil has declined and will continue to decline as it will be harder to extract the same amount of oil in Oklahoma. Also, our E&P companies are under tremendous scrutiny from diverse and different environmental groups from all over the world and the United States. Our states E&P revenue could also be threatened by a dreadful windfalls profits tax by the hands of the federal government and by the hands of our own Oklahoma state government.



Proposal:

My proposal to address the above concerns is as follows:



1.) Create a positive Oklahoma P.R. campaign in order to showcase how our E&P companies are investing in Alternative Energy Sources (Wind, Solar, Bio-Mass)

2.) Allow our E&P companies to take 10% of their total yearly budget for research, exploration and development and invest in alternative energy technology
within the state of Oklahoma border

3.) This 10% investment should not be subject to Oklahoma Capital Gains taxes or production taxes (If taxed, make it 50% lower than Oil & Natural gas).

4.) Allow the E&P companies the flexibility of whether or not they want to participate in this investment incentive. Don’t force it.

5.) Private investment has always shown to be more efficient than having the government involved directly and having the government force it on our private companies.

6.) Let the program run for 5 years consecutively without interruption. Allow the investment of alternative energy projects to be in production by 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 & 2012. These projects will be exempt in perpetuity from capital gains and will also have limited production tax consequences.

7.) Areas of investment should be in the order of: 1.) Wind-Power, 2.) Solar, 3.) Bio-Mass: The order I propose will allow the most revenue to come to the state the most quickly. For instance, Bio-Mass still needs more research completion in order to realize true economic return.



Conclusions:

I would expect the result of this incentive to be very positive toward our state’s image as well as show leadership by diversifying our states fuel mix and allow us to export our wind-power through REC’s (Renewable Energy Credits) to other energy starved states in the U.S. It would grow our alternative energy revenue by having new production, new employment and world renowned research opportunities in advanced materials and biological research. This research could be conducted with Oklahoma’s main comprehensive research universities in conjunction with the Department of Energy’s NREL (National Renewables Research Laboratory). These type of strategic actions could be touted around our country in order to avoid disastrous wind-falls profits tax policies which were passed and realized in our late 1970’s energy crisis. Avoiding these kinds of bad economic policies will ensure Oklahoma’s economy will remain strong and allow us to start taking a leadership role in strategic alternative energy policy in the United States. Every day we do not have alternative energy power generation sources in production is lost revenue and unrealizable job creation. It is said by the AWEA that there are 2-5 permanent jobs created for every 50 MW to 100 MW of installed wind-power generation. It’s time for a strategic alternative policy in the state of Oklahoma.



The following are some website and agencies which should be contacted in order to further study economic impacts as well as future directions:

1.) Oklahoma Bio-Energy Center

2.) Oklahoma Bio-Energy Institute

3.) NREL (National Energy Renewable Energy Laboratory): Golden, Colorado

4.) AWEA (American Wind Energy Association)

5.) OWPI (Oklahoma Wind Power Initiative)

6.) Department of Energy (DoE)









Wind Energy Financing Tool from NREL (National Energy Renewable Laboratory (Golden, Colorado)

http://analysis.nrel.gov/windfinance/login.asp

After you click on the above link use: LMFC for the Login id and april12t for the password and then click on Project and select Longhorn Mountain





Wind Powering America Website:

http://www.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/windpoweringamerica/





State Incentives for Renewables

http://www.dsireusa.org/



Utility Integration Assessment


NREL researchers analyzed research data collected from this wind farm in Lawton, Oklahoma, to determine the impacts of wind energy on systems operations.

The integration of wind energy into the electric generation industry's supply mix is one of the issues industry grapples with. The natural variability of the wind resource raises concerns about how wind can be integrated into routine grid operations, particularly with regard to the effects of wind on regulation, load following, scheduling, line voltage, and reserves.

At NREL, researchers work with wind developers and electricity suppliers, using a range of methods, tools, and analyses to further the understanding of the economic and operational effects of wind generation on the electric supply system. Their strategy is to define and complete activities, on a region-by-region basis, that provide system operators, planners, and relevant decision makers with the information and tools needed for equitable treatment of wind power in the energy marketplace

Comment by James F Scott on July 9, 2008 at 5:15am

How do I join this particular group? I'm an OSU graduate, class of 77.

Comment by Bill Mollring on July 8, 2008 at 3:15pm

I look forward to watching your group's progress and updates. For more information on Mariah Power's Windspire please contact me at mrbillmaui@yahoo.com or 831 402-2037
http://www.emsystems.net
Our group site at Pickins Plan is listed as: Mariah Power.
Thank you and Aloha. Bill Mollring

Comment by Nick Nulph on July 8, 2008 at 11:45am

Boone Pickens on CNBC 7/8/2008
http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=788361541&play=1

Boone on CNBC 5/20/2008
http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=747990771&play=1

Comment by Nick Nulph on July 8, 2008 at 11:40am

Hey guys,
My name is Nick Nulph, I live in Enid, OK and I and an alumn of Oklahoma State University. Obviously we all know of Boone Pickens and his great success in the energy industry, but this plan goes above and beyond anything he's ever done in my opinion. It's finally an energy plan that we can sink our teeth in and comes from a person who not only puts his money where his mouth is, but especially has the knowledge and will to make it happen. This is exciting, and comes at the perfect time. I hope we can get some discussion started and see where that leads us here...

Comment by Brett Horvath on July 8, 2008 at 10:50am

Hey Folks,

Thanks for taking the lead and creating a group. This is exactly what we are going to need to sustain this campaign and realize its goals.

My name's Brett and I'm the Director of Online Organizing for PickensPlan. I want to be as helpful as possible in making this group work for you, and coordinating with the rest of the campaign.

Here's a link to a discussion on tips for a successful group:

http://push.pickensplan.com/group/organizers/forum/topic/show?id=2187034%3ATopic%3A232

That's a great place to start. Also, feel free to send me a message at Brett@PickensPlan.com at any time. Let me know what I can do to help you out in the coming days and weeks. I look forward to working with you.

Brett.

Comment by Ken Novy on July 8, 2008 at 10:49am

Thank you Mr. Pickens !! Finally, someone who cares about the energy solutions of our great nation. Invest in America and Americans !! Don't forget to hire OSU grads !!

Comment by Adrian Martin, P.E. on July 8, 2008 at 10:04am

OSU could be a world leader in wind power given our proximity to Western OK.

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