T. BOONE ROUND-UP

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Comment by Jack Costantino on March 31, 2009 at 8:38pm

BE 500 PEOPLE!

The 3 day Pickens Virtual March on Washington is ON! Among other actions, I’m encouraging everyone to send a single eMail EVERY DAY. In political arithmetic that is counted as 500 in the minds of our elected officials.

YOU ARE 500 PEOPLE. Every eMail legislative aides receive is statistically calculated to represent 500 people in a congressional district who feel exactly the same way...even if they didn’t actually write. That’s absolute fact. It’s a simple thing to do, but it has tremendous impact.

Please go to Find your District Congressman and enter your zip code in the box on the far right side. You will be directed to a page at CONGRESS.ORG that automatically finds and allows you to eMail your elected officials on the federal and state level. Copy and paste the following text:

--------------------------Beginning of Letter ---------------------------------------------------

(Subject Box:) Support the Pickens Plan

(Issue Area Box: Choose Energy)

(Editable Text Area:)

I am a constituent living in (FILL IN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OR TOWN) who supports the Pickens Plan and asks you to do the same. America’s dependence on foreign oil depletes our economy, threatens our national security and negatively impacts our environment.

Please sign the Pickens Pledge and support conservation, education and the development of clean energy at every possible opportunity. It’s important for our economy and the well being of generations to come.

Thank you for your thoughtful consideration.

------------------------End of Letter ------------------------------------------------------------------

The rest of the options are your own choice. Click the “Send Message” button at the bottom of the page.

This type of appeal makes our leaders take notice, and I urge every one of you to BE 500 PEOPLE today, because you really are. You have power that can be delivered with a few clicks of your finger. Don’t wait…do it now!

Thank you for your support.

Jack Costantino, DL, NJ-11
NJDLD

Comment by W. Dan Chance on March 31, 2009 at 3:28pm

Ron, if I get this right, we at the PP should be encouraged that even the wishy-washy types in the market who travel in "schools" like fish and all turn with no visible sign of reason or a leader seem to be in agreement that the wishy-washy fish-school types in Congress are going to approve pradigm changing legislation that will fundamentally change the way we produce and consume energy. OK. Sounds good but if the sides of the guide shute aren't strong or high enough, a lot of those cows will jump the sides before they get to a concolusion. Seriously though, we could be talking anemic proposals and zero expectations of genuine movement to clean energy so we're moving in the right direction. Thanks for the update.

Comment by david@PickensPlan on March 31, 2009 at 1:54pm

If you are on Twitter, help spread the word about Pickens Plan! Use the hashtag #pickensplan on relevant tweets during March on Washington week.

Not sure what Twitter is? Check out the Pickens Plan Supporters on Twitter Group.

Comment by H. RONALD (RON) HARTMAN on March 31, 2009 at 12:56pm

TODAY - FROM A STOCK MARKET INVESTMENT ADVISORY KNOWN AS "GREEN CHIP REVIEW" --- (Food for thought as to what teh Washington bozos are up to now.)

All the Energy Eggs in One Basket
By Nick Hodge | Tuesday, March 31st, 2009
Detroit isn't the only one getting a smackdown.

Just days after slamming the authoritative gavel on the auto industry, which resulted in the forced ousting of CEO Rick Wagoner, Congress is now set to begin marking up an energy bill that is sure to spark controversy. . . and profits.

Of course, billions rest on the outcome of Detroit's debacle. But hundreds of billions, if not trillions, rest on these coming energy decisions.

Fact is, cars are useless without an energy source, whether it's gas or electric. And I suspect some of the conditions for aiding the auto industry will include increased efficiency and a push toward electric.

So in many ways, Detroit's future — and our portfolios' — hinges on this year's energy bill

2009 Energy Bill: Hype, Hope, and Hubris

Contention is always thick whenever the energy bill comes up in Congress. Loyalties always run high.

Representatives from coal states favor coal. Representatives from oil states favor oil, and so on.

That's why this year's bill is such a risk for all parties involved. It's winner take all.

Included in the bill is everything a Green Chip investor could ask for. We have everything to gain.

Unfortunately, that also means we have everything to lose.

On the line are a national renewable energy standard (RES) — once called a renewable portfolio standard (RPS) — and the creation of a cap-and-trade program. . . two things I've affectionately referred to as the combined Holy Grail and Holy Goblet of renewable energy's future.

The RES floated by Jeff Bingaman (D-N. M.) would require utilities to get 16% of their electricity from renewable resources by 2019 before jumping up to 20% by 2021.

This would guarantee a market size for renewable energy at a much higher level than the marginal 3% or so where it currently stands, and would send related stocks soaring.

But this bill is a one-two combination. The RES is only the first jab.

A cap-and-trade system would limit the amount of carbon companies can put in the air. Utilities that burn coal would be hardest hit, and renewables would grow in cost-competitiveness as their fossil cousins' costs skyrocket.

Not only will this bill mandate the increased use of renewables. . . it will make it much cheaper and attractive to use them.

Yes, this bill will make it much easier to reap profits from the cleantech sector. [If it passes.] You see, the strategy this year is different than most.

Rather than tackling important provisions one at a time, some Democrats plan on using their newfound strength to ram through several measures in one bill.

With strong GOP opposition, and even a few concerned democrats, hubris could rear its ugly head.

Put simply, this bill is either going to wind up doubly successful or doubly disastrous.

As a green investor, you'll have to stay on top of this legislation. Its outcome is of paramount importance.


Energy Bill: a Roadmap

It's very likely no significant action will be taken on this bill until after the Easter Break. There are a lot of players involved, so I'll do my best to spell it all out for you here.

Henry Waxman (D-Cal.), who is Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce committee, is expected to float one bill containing both provisions by the end of the week.

In the Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has also said he supports a one-bill strategy. But some of his energy panel colleagues disagree.

The aforementioned Bingaman, for example, and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) favor separate legislation for the RES and cap-and-trade. They will be taking up four different energy provisions today, none of which involve an RES or cap-and-trade.

So you see, the number of chefs is growing. And if my senses are correct, we're going to have to let this one stew a long time. By that I mean green investors will eventually get both needed provisions, just not all at once. Congress will likely take the Bingaman approach, working methodically to ensure the long-term viability of each policy.

His spokesman, for example, indicated that these first few steps are only a "foundation" Congress "will build on later," perhaps in later preliminary sessions or when the bill comes to the floor.

I guess good things come to green investors who wait. And wait we shall. Sentiment from the Senate energy panel is republicans have not yet settled on their energy priorities. Their agenda likely won't coalesce for a few more weeks.

So this roadmap ends where it started, with no real action until Easter.

Problems, Passage, and Profits

After the bunny's hopped, and Congress gets serious about passing an energy bill, problems will arise the same way they always do, from partisan disagreements.

Republicans will argue that cap-and-trade will hurt the economy, and will fight against a nationwide RES since southern states have enough coal to last decades. Democrats will tack on egregious liberal policies to strengthen the plans they really want passed.

Further problems could ensue if the House and Senate pass varying energy bills, which always happens. Any differences would have to be reconciled between parties and chambers.

In the end, though, I see passage of both cap-and-trade and a national RES this year. The omnibus attitude and bills we've seen so far from this administration, along with the penchant for sweeping change, are only going to continue.

A far-reaching energy bill would allow for both. And you can bet democrats won't show any weakness — they're more than eager to flex their newfound strength and exploit strong public support.

While partisan debate could water it down just a bit, I expect the final energy bill will be a strong indication that renewable energy is the way forward, and that the government is willing to enact policies to make it happen.

In turn, that will send a strong signal to the market. It'll be the signal we've been waiting for, and green chip stocks will be off to the races.

It's hard to say exactly which stocks will be winners until the final version is passed. But holding a few renewable energy ETFs should guarantee you great exposure. I like Market Vectors Global Alternative Energy (NYSE: GEX), but there are plenty out there worth taking a look at.

Call it like you see it,



Nick

P.S. Fresh off the recent stimulus, and in anticipation of the energy bill, renewable energy stocks are already starting to rise. Many are up more than 40% in March alone. And Alternative Energy Speculator members have been cashing in, having closed nine winning positions this month with many more positions in the green.

P.P.S. In just a short time, I'll be attending the 6th Renewable Energy Finance Forum—Wall Street. Not only will cleantech policy be covered in depth, but you'll hear it from DoE decision makers and company heads.

Comment by Geoff Bailey on March 31, 2009 at 9:24am

AWESOME job Uly. As always.

Geoff

Comment by Ulysses "ULY" Labilles on March 31, 2009 at 9:16am

I have been busy reaching out for the Virtual March with various groups like MoveOn including LinkedIn and Facebook groups like Six Degrees of Separation-The Experiment that has 4, 172,342 members . I hope it will make a difference.

Comment by Ulysses "ULY" Labilles on March 29, 2009 at 10:08am

I have been busy reaching out to other groups for the Virtual March such as the MoveOn Power Up Kick Off Campaign here in Dallas yesterday. It was a good meeting justifying the fact that matters on Green Energy and new Green jobs are not a liberal or a conservative agenda but an American and Global Agenda.

Comment by Leslie G. on March 29, 2009 at 9:55am

Cool site for kids Earth Hour Kids.

Comment by Jack Costantino on March 27, 2009 at 10:14am

From Geoff Bailey, RL

I wanted to take some time and give a big TX-21 SHOUT OUT to Lori, Steve and Bill! They are three fantastic DLs who are working hard to spread the Pickens Plan message all over their district. They really are an inspiration.

District Group TX-21 Activities

Steve Collier and I went to Claudia Taylor "Lady Bird" Johnson High School in San Antonio to present the Pickens Plan to Devin Saunder’s (a TX-21 member) environmental science class on March 23rd. It was a good meeting. The students asked several questions and seemed excited that we came to their class. One of the students in the class (Alyssa Arredondo) joined the Pickens Plan after listening to the presentation. Hopefully other students will join as well.

Steve Collier and Jeff Manning are presenting the Pickens Plan to the Austin Technology Council on March 27th. Steve will give us an update on how the presentation went later next week.

We will be organizing a local Pickens Plan meeting in New Braunfels within the next couple of months. Details will be posted as soon as they're available.

Comment by Robert Schultz on March 24, 2009 at 8:10am

Great idea Joe! Heck, I'd settle for $100,000. That would pay off debts and start a small alt-energy business.

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