Sensible Energy Alternatives
Profile Information
- Are you interested in becoming an organizer in your area?
- Yes
- Tell us about your experience with alternative energy:
- In 1975-76, I worked at the Energy Resources Center at the University of Illinois compiling energy use statistics and working on alternate energy and residential/commercial energy conservation projects.
In late 1976 and early 1977, I worked on biddng and managing large-scale Solar and alternate energy demonstration projects for a commercial piping contractor.
I was the founder and president of Solaronics, Inc, an alternative energy company that operated from 1978 to 1984. I sold and installed a variety of low temperature solar thermal energy and alternative energy technologies. I researched and applied cost-effective conservation techniques for commercial and residential HVAC applications. I designed and built specialized heat pumps, including groundwater heat pumps, indoor swimming pool dehumidification/heating systems, etc.
- What excites you about this campaign?
- The potential to use clean, renewable energy resources to displace expensive foreign oil and reduce our trade payments imbalance. The potential to bolster our lagging domestic auto manufacturers. Natural Gas is a viable vehicle fuel that requires very minimal refining. The pipeline distribution network already exists, all the way to the home consumer.
- What do you want to do to help?
- Use my writing, speaking, and communications skills to promote the plan. I am also a capable energy engineering analyst. I have experience doing technical analysis and economic analysis of alternate energy technologies for applications.
I have worked as a state coordinator for American Solutions, State Captain for Vets for Freedom, a local Republican Party leader, and a conservative political activist.
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27FEB09
Honorable Speaker of the House Congresswoman Pelosi,
I am an Electronic Technician Chief in the US Navy with 27 years service stationed overseas. I’m outlying an idea to assist and work with current plans for achieving energy independence. I urge you, as speaker of the house and the driving force to form the select committee on energy independence and global warming, consider for discussion and introduction into the house US Treasury Savings Bonds for Energy Independance.
In WWII America sold war bonds supporting the war effort. When young, my mother told me her primary school raised enough money through bonds to build a tank to support troops. I am impressed with the patriotism and purpose of our greatest generation that accomplished so much.
Selling energy bonds for RE (Renewable Energy) development would lower foreign oil imports and assist with the complex problem of funding. Bonds sold as “Energy S” could support new solar trough plants, “Energy W” to support wind farms, Energy “H” to support hydroelectric plants, Energy “T” to support RE transportation such as electric bullet train routes powered by RE, Energy "C" COOPS for small communities only needing a small quantity of turbines, and Energy “I” for needed infrastructure high voltage power lines to the RE site. Bonds will have the project name and include an artist’s perspective of the project and an American flag. President Obama had great success with the internet during his campaign. In a similar manner, using the internet, energy bonds could have a website listing current projects and an “electronic checkout” could purchase a bond $25 or higher. Simpler methods of payment such as “PAYPAL” and credit cards would be available and after an electronic purchase is complete a color print out of the bond is available with a follow up of the bond in the mail. The website would limit quantity of projects for each category until funding is complete. After a project becomes funded, a new project will be available. A tab on the site will show history and status of previous projects. Purchasers may take great pride in “collecting” and displaying bonds of various RE projects and participating at different levels of financial support. Solar trough plants in the multi-hundred MW size capacity with molten salt energy storage in California, Arizona, and West Texas can provide a major portion of electric needs. North Dakota has potential to support 1/3 of our nations electric needs in it’s class 4 wind zone areas. There are plenty of suitable proposed wind turbine farms now around the nation to significantly increase our RE if funded. Mid sized hydro-electric has not been used in America to it’s full potential. Following the example of our neighbor, Canada, it would provide a significant increase in percentage of electric production. Developing all three we could provide the majority of our electric and heating needs through renewable energy in a "New New Deal" fashion allowing natural gas for transportation as T. Boone Pickens is working for. Bullet train routes have proven a viable alternative to commercial domestic air service and when powered by electricity provided by RE suppliers America would be in the forefront of world technology. Example, I heard of discussion for a commuter train from Denver to Colorado Springs. Such a route built as a renewable energy project with charter requirement legally requiring to only purchase electricity from available renewable energy sources would be a model example. There are many train routes, city bus systems, and government vehicles that can be converted to run from alternative energy sources and fuels. Jobs created would bolster the economy, lower trade deficit, and strengthen national security. I would take great pride in print outs of bonds with graphics of each project I supported and many other Americans would also. The energy bonds could have tax breaks. BLM lands may be a viable place to start for some projects.
I contacted the US treasury department and was told that the marketing department for savings bonds closed several years ago. I was told there would be problems because savings bonds are at the federal level while the projects will be at the state and local level. I disagree and believe that these can easily be figured out in the way of grants to the state and local level using money from the bonds for those specific projects. I was told to check out auctions on the www.treasurydirect.gov website and found them to not apply to citizens wanting to buy savings bonds to support a cause such as energy independance. I was told by the treasury department to look into CREB (Clean Renewable Energy Bonds). I found CREB to be large scale funding that a citizen would not be able to participate in as a US Treasury Energy Independance Bond would provide. If given the tools to participate directly, the power of the citizens of the United States to help achieve energy independance could not be denied. Americans mean well and the Energy Independance Savings bond program will give citizens the power at their level to make it happen. If marketed through a web page, commercials, and to federal employees the word would get out and participation would spread like wildfire.
Mr. Paul Gipe, a resident of Bakersfield CA, an author of several books about wind energy, and recipient of multiple awards as a pioneer in the industry since the 1970's has put a letter I wrote to Senator Dorgan on this subject as well as an older letter I wrote on wind COOP in JAN07. These websites are:
http://www.wind-works.org/coopwind/RenewableEnergyBondsforEnergyIndependence.html
and
http://www.wind-works.org/articles/AmericanEnergyIndependencethroughCooperativeInvestmentinWindEnergy.html
Sincerely and very respectfully,
ETC(SW/AW) Mike Kendall USN
Mailing address: PSC 476, Box 879, FPO AP, 96322 USA
Telephone (803) 265-4756, Email: ke6cvh@yahoo.com
You think you know it all Norm. Well you never built the worlds tallest pedastal water tower now did you.
Want a photo, just email me.
Sincerely, Art Norris
Thanks for the comments about alternative energy in Illinois. I know there are many road-blocks ahead, but I still am determined to move forward. Someone has to work on getting through those blocks, cutting the red tape, and so on. Might as well be me.
I would be interested in meeting for lunch sometime to have a real conversation about your experiences with these issues. Seems you have been concerned for many years and probably have a lot of wisdom regarding what to and not to do.
Thanks again for your valuable thoughts!
Sonne
I am not exactly sure about you but I personally have been asked by some to try and help deal with blatant political attacks and being locked out of discussions based on minor ideological differences. I can easily see this site, considering the vast differences that exist on the site form a political stand point, degenerating into a frozen partisan mass. Many have other options.
Our strength is going to be in numbers and our unity. Do you want to risk that for something that resembles "political flag waving" I understand people wanting to show their "colors" but I have seen people asked for removal of much less. I merely asked the individual in question to consider the larger movement. Part of he welcoming process is trying to bring people into the movement, show them some options and try and set a positive tone. I do not believe I have over stepped my welcome or failed to consider his rights.
As for the use of "We", I do not feel that I have oversteps a presumption of trying to onsider speaking for a group as a whole since this is a very large community and I have been active in it for a long time and think that in the larger picture, most people in a community have a right to a little presumption of representing the group as a whole. Please feel free to contact me again f you feel I have over stepped my bounds as you see fit to impose them on me. I feel that you have a right to question my "right" to address the community standards of people. I work very hard at keeping this community a positive focused cohesive unit with eyes on one goal, that is energy policy. If you need, or feel the need to, feel free to point out my behavior to the larger organizations structure.
dan
I live in Deerfield and i am co-founder of www.usaenergyindependence.com as well as forming the USA Energy Group in this community.
I read your background, you might be interested in joining our group and if you like even joining us here in the North Shore to start a USA Energy Independence Revolution here.
Keith
What is your experience so far with this site - and also with alternative energy?
Have you added solar or wind power to your home?
What have the results been?
Illinois - currently - is one of the best places to consider adding alternative energy... and I hope it stays that way.
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