Colorado for PickensPlan: (OPEN TO ANYONE-ANYWHERE)

Comment

Comment by hello on September 5, 2008 at 11:11am

Neil, I here what you are saying. This really should be non-partisan. I think it is hard to not get upset when you are affiliated with one party and a different one is in control and we see things happen like gas prices at $4.00 /gallon. I started this group not to have a forum for people who want to argue for politics, but rather to try and help push the plan through. I created this group so we could share our ideas and work together - regardless of your affiliation. I think Bruce, like myself feels that Obama will do a better job than McCain, however - either way this needs to be a top priority of the next president.

Comment by Neil on September 4, 2008 at 7:54pm

Comment by BRUCE on August 11, 2008 at 12:06pm
"Obama has already committed to seriously consider supporting this--even though, yet again, he took harsh criticism from far left for switching from hard-nose resistance to any off shore drilling and from McSame's campaign for "flip flopping" on the subject. My point here is that the only way we'll get much needed support and incentive from our govt is for hard compromises to be made, This plan represents a very promising start and we should (need to) support it."

I really support our need to break the choke hold this country's energy policy has placed on us. I particularly like the approach laid out by the Pickens Plan so here I am exploring what my fellow Colorado residents think.

Got room for a 'McSame' supporter? I’m serious, because if this is just another partisan rant group I don’t think I can help. Whoever ends up in DC this January better be pushed by the public or it will be four more years of the same energy policy brought to you by both political parties. I don't think that is a 'McSame' any of us think is a good idea. The above quote worries me a little bit about the focus of this group and I'm curious to know your thoughts.

Comment by hello on September 4, 2008 at 9:09am

Dear Mr. Gasman:



Thank you for contacting me with regards to renewable energy. I appreciate your taking the time to get in touch.



Like you, I am a strong supporter of renewable energy, and have worked to promote renewables through my role as co-chair of the 217-member Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus in the House of Representatives. I have also been a strong supporter of the Production Tax Credit (PTC) and other critical tax incentives for renewable energy. In the last Congress and again in this Congress, I have cosponsored bills to extend the PTC and to expand the PTC to include a greater range of renewable technologies. Although the House has passed several bills over the last year that included extending these tax credits, which I supported, the Senate has not been able to get the legislation passed. Please know that I will continue to work to promote renewable energy technologies to reduce our dependence on foreign fossil fuels and lower emissions of greenhouse gases.



Thanks again for contacting me. I see my job as more than voting on legislation. I also want to try to bridge divides and bring people together to solve problems. So, I welcome your letters and e-mails and always listen closely to what you and other Coloradans have to say. For more information, visit my web site at http://markudall.house.gov/HoR/CO02/home.htm.






Warm Regards,

Mark Udall
Member of Congress

Comment by hello on August 12, 2008 at 1:53pm

Bruce,

You are dead right about the tire pressure and fuel economy. It seems small but, if every one in America were to check their tire pressure, it would make a big change in just a few more months.

Comment by hello on August 12, 2008 at 1:49pm

I wrote letters to both Senators Allard and Salazar for Colorado as well as Representative Mark Udall. I have basically told them who I am and I explained that I am worried about America's addiction to foreign oil. I mentioned that T. Boone Pickens has a plan and I asked about 6 questions in regards to T. Boone's Plan. He sent me this in response:

Dear Justin:



Thank you for contacting my office regarding domestic energy production and American energy independence. I appreciate you taking the time to write on this matter.



I feel that a broad-based approach must be used to address the energy requirements of the country. In order to meet the country's short-term energy needs, we must continue to rely on fossil fuels. We must continue to expand our exploration for oil and gas.



Today approximately 66% of all of our nation's oil is imported. Because of this, we should explore all means of domestic energy production as an important step to decreasing our dependence on foreign oil. In addition to producing our own oil, I am supportive of other sources, such as renewable and nuclear energy.



With available modern technology, nuclear energy can continue to be safely produced and provide clean, reliable, and cheap energy to millions of Americans. Coal, America's most abundant natural resource can be converted to a clean liquid using carbon capture and storage technology and can help displace imported petroleum as a transportation fuel. Expanding America's oil and natural gas production and refining capacity through deregulation and tax incentives can also bring down the cost of energy and decrease our dangerous dependence on foreign sources of energy.



I also recognize that traditional energy sources are just one answer to the question of a national energy policy. You may be interested to know about some of my efforts on behalf of renewable energy. I am a founding member and currently the Co-Chairman of the Senate Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus. With 36 Senators, the Caucus seeks to bring together industry representatives, the Presidential Administration and Congressional interests to discuss and promote the use, research and development of renewable energy and energy efficiency. While we work to perfect renewable energy technologies, environmentally responsible oil shale and natural gas drilling in Colorado can serve as a valuable component to meeting our nation's energy needs.



You may also be interested in some of my recent efforts to relieve energy costs and form a more sustainable national policy. Along with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM), the Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, I worked to introduce the American Energy Production Act, Senate bill 2973 several weeks ago. The Act addressed America's soaring gas prices by focusing on common sense measures that would increase domestic production of oil, gas, and oil shale in America. Also, as a founder of the Senate Renewable Energy Caucus, I have long been a proponent of clean, sustainable solutions to our energy needs. These proposals would reduce our dependency on foreign oil along with conservation efforts.



Again, thank you for writing to express your concerns. If you would like more information regarding this and other issues important to Colorado, please visit my website at http://allard.senate.gov/public/





Sincerely,

A

Wayne Allard

United States Senator



WA:JE

Comment by BRUCE on August 11, 2008 at 12:06pm

This sounds like a cliche (because it is), but now is the exact time to e-mail colorado state and national legislators and especially those running for office this November. There is pending (to be addressed right after the August recess, as I understand it) a proposal for legislation that was put together by a bipartsan group of 5 Republican and 5 Democrati senators (known as the "Gang of Ten") that appears to be the first genuine attempt to seriously take on this energy (and global warming) crisis. It represents a compromise on both sides (ie, involves some "controlled" offshore drilling in the near term but puts most emphasis on wind, solar, and other types of alternative energy sources--and funding to initiate the making available and distributing these other energy sources).

Obama has already comitted to seriously consider supporting this--even though, yet again, he took harsh criticism from far left for switching from hard-nose resistance to any off shore drilling and from McSame's campaign for "flip flopping" on the subject. My point here is that the only way we'll get much needed support and incentive from our govt is for hard compromises to be made, This plan represents a very promising start and we should (need to) support it.

More to the point, we can now try to press incumbant and challenging candidates for all the Colorado legislative posts to support this gang of ten proposed legislation--or something stronger if they think they can do better.
Supporting this is just one way we can individually /collectively do something. Easy to do, and if enough do it, can be effective.

And monitor our tire pressure!! And Drive smarter (more efficient itineraries). These are things many across the country have already begun to do, and has had an immediate impact on oil consumption (hundreds of millions of fewer gallons have been consumed over past 3-4 months: think what the impact would be if everyone improved their fuel usage efficiency!)

Comment by hello on August 11, 2008 at 12:08am

That is very true - however we can't wait any longer. We must do something now. We should have wind farms going up everywhere.

Comment by Jayme Miller on August 10, 2008 at 5:11pm

Alternative energy should have been a priority at least ten years ago.

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