Online Action Army

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Comment by jeffrey gordon on July 16, 2008 at 7:10pm

Xander, great job with this group, growing like the weeds in my organic pasture :)

I believe congress is going to address the energy tax credit/deduction issue again soon. This would seem to be an excellent opportunity for T. Boone's Army to flex its muscle. Lets get a webpage form up and direct all soldiers and new soldiers to this page and allow them to send emails to their senators and congress members telling them to not only extend the existing credits but do so for a long period of time so investors and business folks and "Big Oil" and foreign oil can understand that America is serious about becoming Energy Independent in the next 20 years.

To The Transformation

jeffrey gordon

Comment by Jason W. Hill on July 16, 2008 at 6:36pm

Also,
here is the link to the agenda for the Texas PUC meeting tomorrow:

http://www.puc.state.tx.us/openmeet/071708.pdf

regards
Jason

Comment by Jason W. Hill on July 16, 2008 at 6:34pm

Call to Action!!!! ASAP!!

Hi,
I just watched "Mad Money" on CNBC and there was reference to a ruling being made on July 17 by the Texas Public Utilities Commission - Docket 33672.
This ruling will connect remote wind farms to the grid. This is HUGE!. It will set a precedent for other states as well. If you remember when Mr. Pickens was explaining his plan on CNBC he mentioned the governments’ role would be to help with regulations that would help connect the wind farms to the transcontinental grid -to get the power where it can be used.
I urge everyone who reads this to view the story from Mad Money and then visit the Texas Public Utilities Commission website and send them an email urging them to pass Docket # 33672. Here are the websites for the Mad Money recap and the TPUC website:

http://www.thestreet.com/s/cramers-mad-money-recap-wind-powers-big-day/funds/madmoneywrap/10426551.html?puc=_htmlbooyah

http://www.puc.state.tx.us/contact/index.cfm

Please help make this happen in your state!!! Hopefully all the rest will follow suit.

regards
Jason

Comment by ROBERT FISHER on July 16, 2008 at 6:14pm

WHAT IF CONGRESS WAS TO TIE STATE AND LOCAL HYWAY FUNDS AND MASS TRANSIT FUNDS TO A REQUIREMENT THAT A PERCENTAGE OF THE FUNDS WOULD HAVE TO BE USED TO REPLACE GOVERMENT OWNED VEHICLES BUSSES,TRUCKS AND AUTOS WITH NATURAL GAS POWERED ONES?

Comment by della martin on July 16, 2008 at 11:45am

Anyone who remembers the 70's or has heard about that era shouldn't have to be reminded that APATHY for far too long on ALL our parts has hurt us tremendously and now there's no "quick fix" to be had. If America doesn't quit whining about the problem and get to work on a viable solution then we may as well just lean over and kiss our collective hindsights goodbye! If we can't do any more than personal conservation, ect., then at least pick up the telephone or your keyboard and send the same loud response to "our" government that we did on illegal immigration. That got someone's attention--if not noticeable response yet--so keep hollering!! Maybe your still, small voice WILL be heard after all.
Bob & Della Martin, Clover, South Carolina

Comment by Lee K. Shuster on July 16, 2008 at 11:15am

Please take a few minutes (seven) to view the video/slideshow I created. I feel it is a good tool to explain the benefits of driving a Natural Gas powered vehicle. It features American Honda's Annabel Cook interviewing Jay Leno. It really drives home the three E's: 1) Enivornmentally cleaner, 2) Economically saner, and 3) Energy Policy sound - Plentiful, domestically sourced Natural gas.

Lee K. Shuster
Salt Lake City -- A concerned citizen

Comment by A. Church on July 16, 2008 at 10:54am

I wholeheartedly agree with Adrian, the US should be more self sufficient, which would strengthen us as a country, and most likely create jobs. Because as of now, foreign oil and big oil companies have a stranglehold on us and our economy. And not only that, I'm sick of big oil controlling Washington

Comment by Adrian Ortiz on July 16, 2008 at 9:52am

I agree Randy.

The plan must be pushed and pushed hard. Our elected officials must be contacted so that they know what their constituents want. Only then can we hope to have this national crises be recognized for what it is, a national emergency.

I want our government to invest in our future, our well being. I want our government to make us stronger and more self sufficient.

Comment by Randy Mann on July 16, 2008 at 9:27am

Evan I like your list. I think we should start with raising public awareness about The Plan itself. The Plan, in its current form, is simple to understand and easy to see how it will help our current situation. Once the base is energized about The Plan we can take the next step.

Comment by David Smith on July 16, 2008 at 9:15am

The problem at present is that the rules in place are designed for fleet operations where grants are available to local and state governments to help with the sky-high costs.
The OBDII (1996: The OBD-II specification is made mandatory for all cars sold in the United States) rule can be modified so a conversion system can use a separate emission alarm system. This would reduce the cost of each engine certification. A standardized system that can be used across all gasoline engines would allow millions of vehicles into the conversion stream.
Even CARB is seeking relief from this onerous rule so the state can certify autos for the private motorist at a reasonable cost.
Here is an excerpt from the NATURAL GAS VEHICLE RESEARCH ROADMAP undertaken for CARB in California.
There needs to be a national focus on after-market conversions—it would be nice for $ to go towards developing more conversions for more platforms.
Conversions are available domestically, however they must be certified for use by EPA and ARB in California—the latter, a reportedly challenging process that must be undertaken for each engine/vehicle model combination. In addition to uncertainty of market demand, different safety and emissions certification standards, along with different incentives and mandates, serve as barriers to foreign light-duty NGV models in the US.

http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/fuels/natural_gas_laws_federal.html

Aftermarket Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Conversions
Conventional original equipment manufacturer vehicles altered to operate on propane, natural gas, methane gas, ethanol, or electricity are classified as aftermarket AFV conversions. All vehicle conversions, except those that are completed for a vehicle to run on electricity, must meet current applicable U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards. For more information about vehicle conversion certification requirements, see the Alternative Fuels & Advanced Vehicles Data Center's Conversions Web site. (Reference 40 CFR 85)


Search Database:
Code of Federal Regulations (current data)
For: "40CFR85"
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/multidb.cgi
SEE ATTACHED FOR ENTIRE TEXT
(c) Aftermarket conversion system means any combination of hardware, including but not limited to fuel storage and fuel metering hardware, which is installed on a light-duty vehicle, light-duty truck, heavy-duty vehicle, or heavy-duty engine with the effect of allowing the vehicle or engine to operate
on a fuel other than the fuel which the vehicle or engine was originally certified to use. Components which do not affect the emissions performance of the converted vehicle or engine, as determined by the Administrator, are not included for the purposes of this subpart.

§ 85.2207 On-board diagnostics test
standards.
(a) [Reserved]
(b) A vehicle shall fail the on-board diagnostics test if it is a 1996 or newer vehicle and the vehicle connector is missing, has been tampered with, or is otherwise inoperable.
(c) A vehicle shall fail the on-board diagnostics test if the malfunction indicator light is commanded to be illuminated and it is not visually illuminated according to visual inspection.
(d) A vehicle shall fail the on-board diagnostics test if the malfunction indicator light is commanded to be illuminated for one or more OBD diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs), as defined by SAE J2012. The procedure shall be done in accordance with SAE J2012 Diagnostic Trouble Code Definitions, (MAR92). This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies of SAE J2012 may be obtained from the Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc., 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096–0001.

Also see - § 85.2222 On-board diagnostic test procedures.

The development of a stand alone On Board Diagnostic (OBD) that works across all engine types could eliminate the certification requirement on the conversion kit and place the emphasis on the diagnostic system. This would allow millions of vehicles to qualify for conversions overnight.

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