Will the Pickens plan do anything in terms of investing in ideas on this site?

I have to ask this question....
I am sure there are alot of people looking to implement their vision of clean energy thru this site.
Beautiful dreamers, in search of a way to make the dream real.
Are we only dreaming about actually doing something with this site, and Pickens?
Some have suggested the purpose of this site is merely political,
to show backing for the Pickens plan, when T. Boone Pickens goes to Washington DC
One person, known to us only as 'The Deuceman" had this observation
Let me know wat yoou think about this....do you think it is tru?
He said
"The primary point of the formation of this forum
was to give T. Boone Pickens some political cover
when he went to Washington to lobby the powers that be.
By being seen with the Who’s Who in the Zoo,
he hoped to be able to play off of the various personalities
and gain some street cred with the general population."

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Permalink Reply by Joseph Chiang on September 20, 2009 at 9:24am: The duceman is very eloquent and right on target. I have such an interest and have checked out the Pickens site, nothing. I check out government grants daily, again nothing. There are lots of grants for CO to count lizards and such. There are lots of grants to improve education in Iran - none for here. There are lots of grants for many useless purposes. Despite EVERY major gain in knowledge has been by individuals, only universities are offered grants and then only to research what government bureaucrats think is from the direction new technologies MUST come. Our Stimulus Plan actively NOT stimulating.

Here are the two grants offered today.

DOI
Department of the Interior
BLM Oregon/Washington: Wild and Scenic Crooked River Ecological Flows Assessment
Grant
http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag200...

DOI
Department of the Interior
BLM Oregon/Washington: Vernal Pool Water Quality Monitoring Project
Grant
http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag200...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Paul on September 20, 2009 at 10:23am: This probably belongs in the "Tell it like it is" group, but this is closer to the rubber meeting the road.

Likely he is 100% on target, as I stated in an earlier reply on another thread. When I joined up I naively assumed that there was the potential for finding some monied interests that would be interested in pursuing a solar program that dovetailed into the wind solution being put forward. Heh heh, the joke was on me.

I'm not saying I haven't had fun participating here since the beginning, but it's hardly turned out to be what I had hoped for.

What I think you have to accept as axiom, it that people with money only care about one thing -- keeping their money. They really don't care about the environment, global warming, the oil shortage, trucks, windmills, solar, etc. etc. and so on. Sure there are some altruists in there but they want to gain recognition for demonstrating their "commitment to their fellow man is now beyond the reach of mere mortals" -- sit in church and listen to the sermons about false benefactors.

So what is left? Politics! That's pretty much what the bulk of the groups, threads, and discussions come down to. Some slowly, some rapidly, all eventually, unless they fade due to apathy first.

Early on the PP site was awash with ideas, concepts, activity, and the ubiquitous con-men, (whether trying to con others or themselves) looking for a quick buck. I had my run-ins with several. The deliberate cons are usually savvy and flee when exposed, the self-deluders are more tenacious. And there is a collection of "When I was young..." folks and another group of academic arbiters. You know the type, they suggest; "I think research needs to be directed in that direction..." But lack the means or the motivation to do so.

OK, ok, back to the question "Are we dreaming?" I you hope someone will come forth and cut a check; yes, that's dreaming. Will persistence, chatter, and becoming recognized as a person who speaks the truth, whether or not it stings, whether or not the recipient wants to hear it, whether it annoys the powers that be -- TA DA -- "Please allow me to introduce myself. I'm a man of..." Whoops, wrong analogy. So, yes you will meet certain folks that will blow sunshine up your skirt; I'm not one of them. I can't speak for others.

The Light is Green!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Joseph Chiang on September 20, 2009 at 12:34pm: You are very wrong about people with money not being interested in green. GE and Gore are two that expect to make obscene amounts of money pretending to be doing something. The only green they want to increase is the green in their pockets, but they are very interested in that kind of green.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Paul on September 20, 2009 at 12:41pm: Hi Joseph,

Yeah. Right! I think you and I both know *exactly* what I meant... LOL ^_^

I hope you had a happy & healthy summer.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Gary Fosburg on September 27, 2009 at 11:47am: It might of started as a way to show the policitians that the people wanted change, but I think that with over 1400 groups now belonging, it's created it own synergy. Energy-like minded people are finding their "connections" thru the Pickens Plan website. My idea below has gotten support. One member from Florida stated that in a small poll he took that 80% of the Pickens Plan members would buy a $5 lottery ticket for the chance of 25,000 to 1 that they may win $25,000 worth of renewable energy products, ie; solar, wind, green appliances, hybrids, etc...

With Lobbyist pouring in billions of dollars a week to keep the status quo, we the people need this type of forum to collectively mobilize to stop these greed lobbyists. Why are we so nice when we use the term Lobbyist. Isn't that just another word for BLACKMAIL AND BRIBERY TO OUR POLITICIANS?

If the Pickens plan (which I support) supported a National Energy Lottery (see blog below) proposal and the 4 million followers donated 5 bucks a week for this Energy Raffle, there would be 800 winners a week or 41,600 winners a year of a $25,000 voucher good only for Renewable products, ie; solar, wind, hybrid, energy green appliances, etc...and be fully transferrable as well. Take advantage of the Fed's energy credit and it would buy around $32,000 worth of Green product/s.

If the Pickens Plan ran this program and retained 10% for operations, not only would it generate further income for the cause but the donators would have some fun with the potential of winning this voucher and 25,000 to 1 odds. Better than a money lottery that doesn't promote going green.

At $20,000,000 a week @ 10%, that's $2,000,000 for the Pickens Plan for operations. Would certainly be enough for expanding the mission. That's over a Billion for the year! Maybe take that money and invest in a windmill anufacturing company that is owned by the workers. Spread the prosperity and have it Made in USA by the owners/workers. see entire plan at: http://nationalenergylottery.blogspot.com/
Also an inventor who has developed a prototye called Road Power. Will convert downhill vehicle traffic 24/7/365 to electricity alongside the highways of America. No Sun, Wind, Water, Land required. One unit will power approximately 3 homes per year. Looking for Angel Investors to take to next level. Would be a great asset to the Pickens Plan to get us off foreign oil even faster. Thank you, Gary; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Paul on September 27, 2009 at 1:52pm: Sorry Gary, The poll just goes to show that lotteries are a tax on people who are bad at math.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ronald Mayes on October 29, 2009 at 8:56pm: I am a chemical engineer with over 40 years of experience. i took a course in grant writing in hopes of obtaining one to work on an idea I have. Like you, I found that there are no grants for private citizens. The grants are only for university-sponsored projects. Bankers will not lend money on a project until it has been economicaly viable for about three years.

I would still like to work on my project. Did you find anyone out there willing to finance a pennyless inventor/
Ron; ▶ Reply to This