Floridians For Solar Reform

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Comment by Bill Tucker on September 30, 2008 at 3:32pm

This is a response I recieved from Senator Bill Nelson to a proposal about how the EPA could speed up the conversion kit approval process:



Dear Mr. Tucker:

Thank you for contacting me about increasing our nation's use of natural gas.

We must develop a long-term energy strategy that alleviates high energy prices and reduces our dependency on foreign oil while protecting our precious environment. The prices of home energy and gasoline have risen in recent months, leaving many struggling to afford driving to work and heating or cooling their homes.

Natural gas usage shows promise as way to lower energy prices and greenhouse gas emissions in the short term. Florida currently consumes over 894 billion cubic feet of natural gas each year, and most of Florida's counties have access to natural gas.

In the long run, however, we need to shift towards alternative energy and to drastically increase the efficiency of our cars, buildings, and appliances.

I will keep your views in mind as the Senate continues to consider ways to address America's energy problems. Please do not hesitate to contact me again.

Comment by Bill Tucker on September 30, 2008 at 3:22pm

This is a response I recieved from Senator Mel Martinez to a proposal about how the EPA could speed up the conversion kit approval process:

Dear Mr. Tucker:

Thank you for contacting me regarding the energy campaign of T. Boone Pickens. I appreciate hearing from you and would like to respond to your concerns.

Today, our nation is 66 percent dependent on foreign sources of energy. It is critical for our national security that we adopt an energy policy that promotes conservation and efficiency, increases domestic production, and diversifies the nation’s energy supply. Mr. Pickens has suggested that we generate 20% of our electricity from wind within ten years and that we replace petroleum with natural gas to fuel our vehicles to decrease our demand for foreign oil.

I agree with Mr. Pickens that the $700 billion a year our nation spends on foreign oil is unacceptable, but an "all of the above" approach is our best option for solving this energy crisis. I have consistently supported an environmentally responsible approach for oil and gas exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). I have also promoted coal-to-liquids technology, the development of cellulosic ethanol and other non-food-based renewable fuels, tax incentives for renewable energies, the expansion of nuclear power, and the extraction of vast oil shale deposits in America's West. To reduce demand, I have supported increases in fuel efficiency standards and investment in mass transit. Congress must encourage the utilization of all of our domestic energy resources and the development of new technologies.

Mr. Pickens has many good ideas, and I believe Congress needs to take up legislation to promote greater energy independence. Please be assured that I will keep your views in mind as we continue developing a competitive national energy policy. I am committed to working with my colleagues in the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the full Senate to promote renewable energy.

Again, thank you for taking the time to share your views with me. If you have any further questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me. In addition, for more information about issues and activities important to Florida, please sign up for my weekly newsletter at http://martinez.senate.gov.

Sincerely,

Mel Martinez
United States Senator

Comment by Andy Collazo on September 25, 2008 at 8:05pm

Folks, I’m so excited to announce Pickens U is finally here! Please feel free to contact me for details.

Pickens U is a new Pickens site specifically designed for students and alumni from colleges and universities across the United States who support energy independence for America.

Outreach on college campuses will be a critical component of our effort to build an Army of 1,000,000 supporters. We plan to mobilize students and alumni of colleges across America to support the Pickens Plan and prepare to take action during the first 100 days of the new Administration.

There are hundreds of college campuses across America, and we are interested in having Pickens Plan chapters on as many of them as possible – from small community colleges to liberal arts schools to prominent institutions to the largest state universities. The key is to find a motivated campus coordinator and an enthusiastic student population – with the right people in place, even the smallest of schools can make a big difference.

http://push.pickensplan.com/collegeMain.php

And best of all, we are in need of Campus Coordinators. This is an exceptional opportunity for a student or alumni to represent their College or University in a leadership role within Pickens Plan New Energy Army.

As a Campus Coordinator you will be responsible for the following:

o Be the public point of contact for their chapter of the Pickens Plan
o Recruit as many students as possible to be supporters of the Pickens Plan, with a particular focus on getting students to join our social networks on Facebook and/or Push.PickensPlan.com
o Host 1-2 events on campus between now and Inauguration Day to raise awareness for the Pickens Plan and recruit supporters
o Assist the New Energy Army regional leader with maintaining chapter webpages on Facebook and Push.PickensPlan.com
o Organize calls to action when we need Pickens Plan supporters from their chapter to contact their elected officials or take other action

The Pickens Plan is a bridge to the future — a blueprint to reduce foreign oil dependence by harnessing domestic energy alternatives, and buying us time to develop even greater new technologies.

Building new wind generation facilities and better utilizing our natural gas resources can replace more than one-third of our foreign oil imports in 10 years. But it will take leadership.

On January 20th, 2009, a new President will take office.

We're organizing behind the Pickens Plan now to ensure our voices will be heard by the next administration.

Together we can raise a call for change and set a new course for America's energy future in the first hundred days of the new presidency — breaking the hammerlock of foreign oil and building a new domestic energy future for America with a focus on sustainability.

You can start changing America's future today by supporting the Pickens Plan. Visit our website at www.pickensplan.com to join us. Email me directly for more exciting news.

Comment by John Lasseter on September 25, 2008 at 10:10am

HERE is an interesting solar concept designed to get those with limited funds to switch to solar. You rent the system... they install, maintain, repair. You simply agree to pay them what you are currently paying your electric company. They design the system to produce enough power where you will zero out on the grid. interesting......

Comment by Bill Tucker on September 22, 2008 at 7:17am

Hello to all,
Let me start by thanking everyone who is part of the search for solutions to our collective independence from foreign oil and climate endangering use of gasoline and diesel vehicle fuel.
One of the largest obstacles locally to T. Boone’s plan is the lack of open to the public CNG fueling stations, and the fact that few if any are in the planning stages. To correct this and allow for Central Florida to become part of the solution to our collective problem, I am looking for assistance from legal and accounting professionals that would be part of a group to study the feasibility of establishing a not for profit corporation.
The not for profit corporation would be used to jump start the establishment of Central Florida CNG and Hydrogen fueling stations that would be open to the public. By establishing open to the public CNG and Hydrogen fueling stations the public would be encouraged to purchase or convert vehicles to CNG, and would allow companies like Honda to make available Hydrogen vehicles like the FCX Clarity. At present Honda is producing the FCX Clarity only in limited quantities and those vehicles will not be available anywhere in the southeastern U.S. because we have no open to the public Hydrogen fueling stations.
I am also looking for people with prior fund raising experience and volunteers that would be interested in pushing this agenda. Anyone who is interested in discussing this further is encouraged to contact me either by Pickens Plan email or forum post on the Local projects group forum “Starting a CNG fueling station”

Comment by Chris Caldwell on September 19, 2008 at 8:04pm

My Blog. Technology is available now! Get it together!
National Environmental Report
Learn about Oil Free Air Bearings
See How A MicroTurbine Works

Comment by Bill Tucker on September 19, 2008 at 6:14am

Hello Brennan and fellow Floridians,
I am here to throw my two cents into the ring. Brennan, thank you for starting this group, I agree Florida needs to step up to the plate in terms of renewable energy. Our state has it all. I disagree with giving the utility monopolies too much control. California had a tough time of it several years ago when they deregulated their utilities, now the big push there is for individual residential solar systems. Solar energy, be it from nano-antennas or PV would be the easiest least expensive and most logical place to start.
Not only is this an election year but as we speak important legislation is moving through the PSC (Public Service Commission) that after it’s finalization by the Florida legislature will have a direct effect on the cost and availability of renewable energy systems in general and Solar systems in particular. I would invite Floridians in particular to check out FPL’s current policies on solar power buy backs from residential and small business customers.
http://www.fpl.com/environment/conservation/alternative_energy.shtml
The PSC is debating over REC (Renewable Energy Credits) versus REP (Renewable Energy Payments) as to which will jump start Florida into the 21st century of renewable energy.
Some of you may have read about this as I am continually posting responses from our current and candidates for the Florida legislature here locally. In the Space Coast group and Central Florida group, please see a detailed explanation there as it is rather long.
To date here are the following responses to legislative calls for action by candidate:
Florida Senator Bill Posey, (www.billposey.com) candidate for U.S. Congressional seat for Florida Congressional district 15: has expressed concern and had his staff follow up by contacting the PSC with the following results; Any action by the PSC will have to be finalized by the Legislature it would appear that REP would benefit the taxpayer/rate payer far more than the REC.
http://www.flsenate.gov/Committees/index.cfm?Mode=Committee%20Publications&Submenu=2&Tab=committees.
Steve Blythe (www.blythe20008.com) is also running for U.S. Congressional seat for Florida Congressional district 15: “That is very interesting. I am interested in how Germany has taken the lead in utilizing photovoltaic power. So how would this REC system affect the homeowner who might be selling electricity back to the grid via net metering? Would the smaller and intermediate-sized providers get less incentive than the big industrial providers? What are some possible solutions – requiring certain percentage of the REC’s be purchased from sources within the state? Should there be other incentives built in to encourage start-ups?”
“Thanks. Obviously this is an important issue we need to monitor and help steer.”
Kendall Moore (www.wewantmoore.com) is seeking to fill the Florida Senatorial seat the Bill Posey is vacating, has not responded.
Wes McCarville (www.investinwes.com) is a candidate for Florida House district 29.
Acknowledged receiving my email;
“I wanted to first thank you for this information and it’s always good to hear from a fellow ground pounder.
Alternative energy is one of the ways I feel that Florida can diversify our employment base and become leaders in the field. We have a great brain trust over on the cape and those folks will be idle so why not put them to work on a national problem.
That said, there is a lot of information here to research, digest and come to a conclusion on, so give me the weekend and I will get back to you with my thoughts on this topic.
I wanted you to know I did get your email and I am working on it.”

I know that this has been long winded but during this important year of elections it is imperative that all of us put aside partisan politics in the best interests of Florida’s renewable energy future. I would ask that all of you contact your present State Senators / Representatives, and candidates for the State legislature and ensure that we are electing those who will ensure Florida has a bright renewable energy future.

Comment by Gary Munson on August 28, 2008 at 5:10pm

Converting vehicles to natural gas is not a practical option. Buying new natural gas vehicles is the proper way to approach this. Gasoline will not go away tomorrow...just use it until you need a new vehicle and change then. The BIG problem is the lack of natural gas fueling stations in Florida. That is where Mr. Pickens needs help in getting his program off the ground. People will not buy natural gas vehicles until there is a sure source of fueling places. No one wants to add a natural gas pump because of the cost. Only government intervention can break this log jam and get Mr. Picken's program underway.

Comment by Getulio Bastos on August 28, 2008 at 1:40pm

Gentlemen,

This is a letter I just sent to Congressman Ron Klein of West Palm Beach and Florida Senator Bill Nelson. I suggest that all of our members do something similar to provoke some reaction from our politicians.

Mr. Bill Nelson,

Florida is one of the worst hit states in the Real Estate crisis. Our tourism industry is being hit tremendously by the gasoline price hikes. And our state is one of the least served with alternative forms of energy. But we can do something about it and one of the things we can do is to facilitate the creation of an infrastructure to sell, install conversion kits in our cars and distribute natural gas within our region.

There are entrepreneurs interested in creating this infrastructure, but the major obstacle is EPA, which has no scientific reason to keep their antique regulations for the conversion of our cars to use natural gas in our roads. There are no technology barriers at all.

It would save our taxpayers a lot of money in the near future while providing for a new source of employment for thousands of Floridians in a brand new industry. In training of new mechanics, installation of conversion kits, installation of natural gas filling stations, distribution of natural gas across the state and maintenance of it all.

There’s a Bill going through Congress now, entitled “THE DRIVE AMERICA ON NATURAL GAS ACT OF 2008” introduced by Senator James Inhofe of Oklahoma.

If you need to research more about it, please visit www.push.pickensplan.com. Please, click here if you want to see the reactions to my discussion Brazil is 100% oil independent. Why aren't we?.

While there you can also see several pictures and videos related to the usage of natural gas as a vehicle propulsion energy both in Brazil and the US.

As a citizen I urge you to support this Bill to pass and provide easier means for our people to expend less on their cars while creating a new industry for the state of Florida.

Your voter,

Getulio Bastos

http://billnelson.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm
Click here to send your message to Congressman Ron Klein

...

Comment by Gary Munson on August 13, 2008 at 2:01am

Here's the two technologies that will trump all others if they come to fruition...

Both Nanosolar and EEstor have been developing applications of nanotechnology. I've been very interested in this concept although it's something that isn't accessible except by highly advanced engineering techniques...requiring huge amounts of money and research. Nanosolar claims to have perfected a means of 'printing' solar panel surfaces on flexible mylar sheeting allowing them to spew the panels out like newsprint...the nanotech part is the 'ink'. They claim to have finally gotten to the point of continuous yield of a material about 1/2 as efficient as current panels but at 1/5 the price per delivered KWH. Current tech silicon panels cost about $5 a KWH, Nanosolar claims $1. This makes generating your own power much cheaper than buying it from the power company even if you have to finance the equipment. The only downside being the need for 2X the panels due to lower efficiency. Another item helping the march of solar PV is that the companies that mfg the grid tie inverters have begun to increase the warranty length of their units to 10 years. Inverter failure has been a thorn in the side of 'early adopter' PV folks.
EEstor claims to be coming close to fruition with a 'super capacitor'. The advantage of a capacitor over a battery is it's ability to charge and discharge very quickly and have a much longer lifespan. Until now the disadvantage has been very limited capacity (power density). EEstor's device is their 'Electric energy storage unit (EESU)' Their claim is a suitcase size device that weighs 350 lbs and will power a sedan-size vehicle 250 miles at 80 MPH then recharge in 5 minutes. In order to be able to charge this fast, one would need a second EESU at home that could charge during the day since your home power supply would not be capable of delivering the very high current in a 5 minute burst. The home unit would charge as fast as your house power could supply it....probably 4-5 hrs then you'd hook it to your vehicle and transfer the charge in 5 minutes. Goolge EEstor for lots of second hand info...they are very secretive and have no public website.
The real trick here, if both technologies arrive, would be to team your solar panels with the EESU for 'free' 24 hour power that you could also tap for your vehicle. This will be a world-changing event if this occurs. That, along with already proven techniques for conservation will be the world's salvation and transform it overnight. Oil people will find themselves in the same position the whale oil people found themselves in when petroleum wells were discovered.
I'm mostly concerned about Estor being able to bring their device out. Lockheed Martin is apparently a big investor and I can see them managing to stop the research somehow on 'national security' grounds and using patent laws to stop anyone else from trying the technique. We'll have to wait and see. A lot of info has leaked...hopefully too much to stop it..

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