Has anyone ever heard of Kenaf -it is a fibrous plant that grows 15 feet in less than 6 months, uses no harmful chemicals in the processing and is fully recyclable. So now we could potentially get paper "tree-free" . This is another avenue that we should factor in on renewal resources. I do not know what Kenaf would do as far as making energy or fuel, but to keep our trees, our forests etc., would help the earth , and the air.
Too many compaines are cutting down virgin forests that can never ,…
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Posted on January 19, 2009 at 9:40am —
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I remember you mentioning your interest in FARE. Well I am trying to coordinate a Lobby Day on 3/24/09 with transportation and lunch provided & we are gathering people form all over the sate. Could you please circulate the info below to your friends here in Florida?? I need all the help I can get! Thank you!
Faye
Thousands of New Jobs, Megawatts of Renewable Energy, Florida’s Green Economy BOOMING - ONLY YOU CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN!
Legislators tell us they MUST see YOUR Faces in Tallahassee in order to pass a
Renewable Energy Dividend policy state wide.
Register at www.FAREnergy.org
Date: 03/24/09
Time: 8:00 am to 2:00 pm
Meet at: Tallahassee Community College Capitol Center
Downtown, 300 West Pensacola St
Please join us for this very important event!
Advocates of effective renewable energy policies will gather at the State Capitol on March 24th, 2009 to show their support for the most effective renewable energy policy our legislature can adopt: Renewable Energy Dividends. Join renewable energy businesses, experts, and advocates, including manufacturers and representatives from the world’s largest renewable energy industry companies. Replicating the success of Gainesville, Florida and introducing a Renewable Energy Dividend policy will bring widespread economic recovery and job creation to Florida, while establishing energy
security and environmental stewardship.
Agenda:
7-8 am Registration
8-9:30 Briefing/Training
9:30-11:45 Lobbying
1 pm Rally & Press Conference
1-5 Lobbying
5:15 Debrief
6 pm Depart
Try to wear YELLOW. It can be a shirt, hat, scarf, ANYTHING to give a bolder message!
The Florida Alliance for Renewable Energy “FARE” is a coalition of concerned individuals, businesses, communities, associations, utilities, policy makers, non-profits, and renewable energy producers. FARE is dedicated to educating and engaging Floridians on effective Renewable Energy Policies.
Let Sunshine Power the Sunshine State!
Contact:
Jane Maxwell - FARE Member:
727-709-3398
Register at www.FAREnergy.org
Or
Faye Roller – Administrative Director
Florida Alliance for Renewable Energy
www.FAREnergy.org
faye@solarsource.net
We have sent over 30,000 messages to our Senators in just 2 days. THIS IS THE MOMENT WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR. Real action is on the table. Let them hear from us.
Boone's team has made it so easy - it takes just one minute to forward a simple message to your Senators. PLEASE do it today. Please get the folks in your home, family and office to do the same.
Here is the easy link to our Senators:
http://capwiz.com/pickensplan/issues/alert/?alertid=12548996&ty...
Let's really push the needle today. Have a great one!
Best,
Kim
This website is sponsored by Al Gore.....another place where I belong to show support...........Again tnanks........>>>Lee
This system is almost unfunded it needs publicity, creative promotion and development.
think you could help?
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
The Florida Alliance for Renewable Energy (FARE), with support from the Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) and the Alliance for Renewable Energy (ARE) are pleased to invite you to join us for a discussion on:
Effective Renewable Energy Policies: Stimulating Job Creation, Long Term Investments, and Improving Energy Security
Featuring discussions on Feed in Tariffs, Net Metering, Rebates, and Gainesville, FL., the first municipality in the United States to introduce a Feed in Tariff policy.
Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009
12-7 pm in Tallahassee
Doubletree Hotel
101 South Adams Street
Tallahassee, FL 32301
(850) 224-5000
The focus of the conference is the deployment of renewable energy in Florida resulting in jobs and energy security. Experts from around the world and participants from various stakeholder organizations will discuss policies to stimulate vast investment in renewable energy to increase energy security and job creation in Florida. Building on Governor Crist’s vision of 20% renewables by 2020, this event will provide first hand experiences from Florida, other states and European countries on what policies are most effective in achieving renewable targets.
SOLAR ON EVERY ROOFTOP!
Panels will include:
· ‘Lessons from Europe and US States’ – Deployment of successful renewable policies.
· Costs vs. Benefits – The potential opportunity if policies are right.
· What energy policies will drive the market and bring jobs to Florida?
· Florida based implementation.
· Legislative Roundtable.
Key objectives:
· Explore green jobs and long term investments.
· Discuss Renewable Energy Payments, also known as Feed in Tariffs, regarding their significant potential to address climate change, create new jobs and support the renewable energy industry
· Further develop policies that have driven the clean technology markets.
· Update on the Renewable Portfolio Standard rules from the PSC.
· Strengthen and Support legislative initiatives in Florida.
· Explore various levels of initiatives adopted by utilities.
· Build coalitions and network.
· The Gainesville Solar Feed in Tariff.
Who will attend: State legislators, environmental and energy advocates, renewable energy industry representatives,local and state utilities, local government officials interested in green job economic development, nonprofits and foundations committed to a renewable energy future.
Speakers will include: leading environmental organizations, Florida State legislators, investors, renewable energy industry organizations and leading energy companies.
Featuring:
· Gainesville Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan
· Florida State Representative Keith Fitzgerald
· Paul Gipe, Alliance for Renewable Energy
· Toby Couture, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
· Dr. Murray Cameron, Phoenix Solar
· Jerry Karnas, Environmental Defense Fund
· Barry Moline, Florida Municipal Electric Association
· Ed Regan, Gainesville Regional Utilities
· Christy Herig, Solar Electric Power Association
· Jerome Guillet, Head of Energy, Dexia
Please go to: www.FAREnergy.org for registration and hotel information.
I often see comments on the pages of people joining the Pickens Plan movement where they want to be involved but have limited knowledge of where to start and where to look. After spending time in Europe and seeing what many countries are doing to secure their energy independence, I think that I can share some pretty good ideas and information with you. The European countries, especially Germany, Denmark and Spain are leading the way on that continent to renewable energy.
As we all know, knowledge is power. This power has for too long been out of our hands with emphasis shifted to different fronts by our government. Whether we are Republicans or Democrats, it doesn’t matter. We are all Americans that face the same problems caused by high oil prices. T. Boone Pickens is leading the charge here in America similar to the path many European countries have been on for 10-20 years. Most countries there have always had expensive fuel. I wish everyone could take a trip to Germany to see the solar and wind initiative that they have fostered in their society. It is mind-boggling! This commitment was jump started by a place called Freiburg, Germany. Denmark started with a huge program in clean energy from wind. These are websites that I would recommend seeing where you can read about these programs and see examples of what they have done and are continuing to do - examples of where we should be heading.
1) The Solar Village – Freiburg, Germany. See: http://www.thesolarvillage.com/
2) The Folkecenter for Renewable Energy – Denmark.
See: http://www.folkecenter.net/gb/overview/publications/
Under VARIOUS, read: The transition from Fossil Fuels to the Renewable Energies
The whole website is excellent and you could spend hours there.
3) Google: Samso, Denmark. This is an island off the coast of Demark that is completely
self-sustaining. http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/07/07/080707fa_fact_kolbert
4) Read the article written by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. titled: “Global Warming: A Real Solution”
Our issues with energy aren’t just about lack of oil to go around, they are on a more grand scale about the issue of Global Warming as well. What you will see in the above references is information that deals with a quest of becoming carbon neutral. Not only can our government and businesses move in that direction, individuals can participate as well like they have in Germany. In Germany and Denmark it is all about tax laws that encourage every homeowner to become an energy producer. The incentives make it worthwhile and at the same time direct these countries toward energy independence.
Unmentioned above are recommendations for a few good documentaries to watch – “Saved by the Sun” a PBS NOVA video, and “A Crude Awakening” by Basil Gemlpke, et al. Americans needs to mobilize and pressure our government representatives both on the state and national level. The Pickens Plan is a good place to foster discussion and share ideas. Good luck in your quest for a better America. Lee
I am a developer mostly of other peoples ideas, usually long after they have been discarded. I sort through them looking for lost ideas. This is faster and more educational than creating new ones from scratch.
To be widely accepted a new energy system needs to be more economical than oil or coal none of the popular systems have achieved this yet, some of the others have, but they look ugly so they haven't been studied closely.
Would you like to help me do a make over on them?