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Are you interested in becoming an organizer in your area?

Yes

Tell us about your experience with alternative energy:

I was a member of the Sierra Club in the late 1970's and developed a keen interest in alternative energy then. My 30 year career in the construction and development industry has exposed me to aspects of alternative energy, but I have yet to get involved in a hands-on, real project basis.

What excites you about this campaign?

It's time, and with grassroots efforts and the backing of T. Boone Pickens and other leaders, this could actually change the direction of our society and our economy.

What do you want to do to help?

I would like to speak to someone about becoming involved in a planning/staff/support basis. In other words, I am looking for a job. Short of that, I am also interested in becoming actively involved in promoting the plan within the community.

What's that I see in the distance?

Alex Long's Blog

Thin-Film Amorphous Silicon Photovoltaics

I saw a documentary on a new solar PV technology within the past year or two. It was interesting in that it still produced electricity (although in reduced amounts) when the sky is cloudy.

I'm not 100% sure of it, but I think this is the technology. Stanford Ovshinsky is the inventor, and the name seems familiar (from the documentary).

Amorphous Silicon vs. Crystalline Silicon = "The amorphous silicon created at the plant is more efficient at absorbing light than crystalline silicon so the… Continue

Posted on August 10, 2008 at 11:30pm — 3 Comments

Brother, can you spare 22 terawatts?

I just ran across a good article on ReasonOnline by Ronald Bailey "Brother, can you spare 22 terawatts?" - with great "big picture" figures from Daniel Nocera, a professor at MIT. He looks at current figures, and extrapolates them out to the year 2050 with a global population base of 9 billion.

He also compares world energy consumption at three levels: 1] U.S. levels; 2] Western European levels; and 3] Indian subcontinent… Continue

Posted on August 2, 2008 at 2:42am —

Comment Wall (14 comments)

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At 8:53am on January 4, 2009, Home Wind Turbine said…: Happy New Year Alex,
Last year I helped so many members of Pickens Plan learn about personal home energy plans. It's all about conservation of power, and home power generation, things I have been doing at my residence to lower my electricity costs. Send me a friend request a to add me Alex, I'd be honored to have you as a friend here.

BTW, Texas: I just posted an article link on my pickens page about Home Wind Systems in Texas. Your state's representatives, governor, and public utility commission officials are not in your corner with this "weak policy" on Net Metering. Instead they have the tables turned against green power for businesses and homeowners. Texas has created multiple sets of rules for loopholes and you have less rights than people in other states. You should read that article, important.

At 3:32pm on September 2, 2008, Paul said…: Hi Alex, you make some excellent points.

At 3:52pm on August 22, 2008, Eric Straatsma MS said…: A free green energy system is here now for those who live in New York and Texas, 22 other states are coming as soon as they are fully energy deregulated. Imagine your house and car powered 100% by clean green wind power.. It is possible, as both Pickens and Al Gore say.

www.aaagreenenergy.com

Going green with electricity for a home is as easy as switching energy providers in deregulated states such as Texas and New York. Just switch to an energy provider that offers this option.. Click on link to see what the latest up to date electricity rates are. I can answer any concerns or questions.

Imagine living in a home powered by wind, without spending a dime on machines, wires, inverters, towers, and grid interties or panels!

You can also plug your electric scooter or car into your home and recharge it with wind power also... Guess what?

You are now a living example that Al Gore's and Picken's Plan works.. We can all live 100% green like this if we want to. Getting 100% carbon free for home electricity and cars is not that hard.. Make the choice... go green. If you live a monopoly energy state where you have no choices, push for deregulation, so that you at least have this power and this CHOICE available.

At the very least, save some money and pick a lower priced energy plan.. The above site will also let you compare rates and save up to 28% on your electricity bill. Try it out.. It is FREE to switch and no costs are involved as far as equipment or installation.

Careers are opening up in this field. Green energy consultants are needed in all 50 states. Contact me if interested, and I can provide more information. Push green power, educate consumers, switch them to green power.. join the team. The momentum is shifting, but each person is important.. Is that person you?

At 3:17pm on August 9, 2008, Gregory L. Smith said…: I believe the University of Cal Berkeley has a paper on that technology, but there is a better technology that they are currently testing with Gallium, Indium, and Nitrites, which when energized absorbs 100% of the available light. This would benefit low light areas, since the light is still present but at different frequencies. It is still in testing, but it is currently 70% efficient. That is 49% higher than current solar panels that average around 22%. With magnification processes, it is very likely the effective efficiencies will rise to about 90% and the entire energy levels will be sufficient to exchange a 100 Watt panel for a panel that receives 400 Watts with the same space and the same light intensity. Check out the site and look for current articles and papers. Hope that helps!
Gregor Smith gregors@att.net Oklahomans for Energy Independence and the Solar Energy group.

At 7:45pm on August 5, 2008, Dr. Norman LaFave said…: Hi Alex,

Come join us at the group Paradigm Shift Institute, a proposed nonprofit organization promoting education, innovation, entrepeneurship, and the solving of national and global crises.

I hope you can help us make a future for our children.

Norman

At 10:02am on August 2, 2008, Kurt Stiffel said…: Inhofe R-Oklahoma introduced this bill... the Dems are about to introduce another one and it gives $90k tax credit for installing Natural Gas pumps. Its got some teeth, I will give you a link once its introduced...

Here are the links to the bill and also to track the bill and then emails so you can tell your employees (Senators, Congress, Whitehouse, Governors) you support this bill (if you agree)...

senate Inhofe link to CNG benefits
http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Files.View&FileStore_id=b6e9227a-949f-4204-84b6-dc467e901011

here is bill tracker for Inhofe’s bill
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-3281

here is the bill tracker for any bill you wish to track

http://www.govtrack.us/

here is a link to all our governors
http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga

here is a link to your congressman
https://forms.house.gov/wyr/welcome.shtml

here is a link to your senator, make sure you write to both your Junior & Senior Senators they are both equally important…
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

The White
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

At 9:54am on August 2, 2008, Kurt Stiffel said…: Alex I just read your comment --- you are spot on and hilarious!

Alex wrote...
"I'm with you on the motorcycle...I'm already shopping...most likely a Harley...

"If I'm gonna die...I'm gonna die Green..."

I just made that up... "

thats awesome brother... Peace and power to the sheeples, Regards, Kurt

At 1:13am on August 2, 2008, Daryl Oster said…: Evacuated Tube Transport (ETT)
A patented technology where travel occurs without air friction or rolling resistance (like “Space Travel on Earth”). ETT provides 50 times more transportation per kWh than electric trains or cars. ETT is clean, safe, and faster than jets. The focus of ETT is to maximize transportation value with proven technologies.

At 5:49pm on July 28, 2008, Marty Grossman said…: I agree it all looks pretty damn bleak in general, but advances in technology (new ideas, improved efficiency, etc) have happened and will continue to happen... if we all use a little less energy we might be able to buy a little bit of time for the "big things" you mentioned (which I agree are nessecary)

Remember, not only is the american government is designed to move slowly, buit drastic changes in the energy economy are slow too... we need to buy time. Little things may help do that.

At any rate, aside from continuing to pester my legislative representation (which I do... alot), conservation is pretty much all I can personally do at the moment that will get immediate results.

Do what you can.

At 2:29pm on July 28, 2008, Wayne Alderman said…: Hi Rhillip,

We all share a common goal. Check our our Pickens group at "Live Carbon Free" and see what we are promoting. Conservation is a way for us to bridge the gap to the future of alternative energy. Alternative energy of any kind is a few years away from implementing and we can make a huge impact by simple discipline in our lifestlyes. We welcome you to join us at Live Carbon Free and value your input. I am also a member of another organization working is this area. Check it out at www.usgreenhome.info.

Wayne Alderman