Liz Kelly's Groups
Whatever you can do or imagine, begin it; boldness has beauty, magic and power in it. Goethe
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- Are you interested in becoming an organizer in your area?
- Maybe--But Not Sure What to Organize
- Tell us about your experience with alternative energy:
- Sure would like to get some...especially PV for the house.
- What excites you about this campaign?
- Been waiting almost 40 years for this to happen. Think T. Boone can get her done!
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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
SEADOG8278
2010
GO LIZ GO !
Welcome aboard. Love the raptor!
You will find many interesting subjects and persons in this site, so take your time and browse the many groups.
You have a great day,
Walter
I am accepting your friendship. I reviewed some of the comments on your Blog and see that you are getting a lot of comments on energy efficiency around housing. I have a lot of experience in that area and would be glad to entertain any issues that you may want to discuss. Feel free to ask.
I must comment on Al Toman's last entry. I pretty much agree with everything that he said except his fourth point, "There isn't a builder in the entire United States that knows how to build energy wise. ............. Do you ever see that guy inspect the job that his employees do?"
Al Toman has not yet met me, so I will cut him some slack! I took economics 101 twice in college - - once in undergrade school and again at Tulane when I got my MBA. I have also been a designer and custom builder of super energy efficient housing for over thirty years. My designs have always considered the economics of their efficiency. I also check the areas of critical importance in my energy efficient homes that I general. I also live in the United States!
Pass this on to Al, I would not mind his becoming my friend too. Have him visit my Blog and the Energy Party group's discussion on SEE housing.
Sincerely,
Thomas
This month's Time magazine has an article on page 32 that pretty much touts Mr. David Epps words, though, Mr. Epps provides the tech data which is cool.
The problem I find in the Times article is the "we could do this" and 'we could do that". Mr. Epps espouses how we can "do this" and 'do that" as well.
But here is the problem. Now, Liz, you saw the HVAC guys in action, right? Ah huh. Were you impressed. No?
#1
Well, here is why we need wind mills and nuke plants and the such.
There isn't ONE HVAC company in the United States that is knowledgeable enough to install and service HVAC systems economically efficient.
#2
Most engineers (and you know one in GM) have not taken Engineering Economics 101 back in college. Bad. Theory is nice. Practice is expensive.
#3
Those seriously in the Business of Energy (hvac, insulation, builders, engineers, etc, etc) calculate it ALL (math is good). Consequently, the result to the end user, the typical average home owner, is way too costly.
#4
There isn't a builder in the entire United States that knows how to build energy wise. They will tout all kinds of cool technology and facts and figures and pretty diagrams and pictures but where are they when their 3 dollar an hour (for which you're getting charged $103) is stuffing insulation in the attic? Do you ever see that guy inspect the job that his employees do?
#5
Politics and funding isn't properly appropriated and managed.
#6
Everyday you see these so-called energy gurus at work. Not impressive.
Therefore, until the efficiency of the "work" ants is dramatically improved, take ALL the theoretical energy savings figures that Mr. Epps has presented and add about 30-50% in-efficiency to them. That is, the work performed has to be respective of the theoretical figures. As well, if the energy efficiency is out of reach economically, then, it ain't gonna happen.
The politicians tout to buy Energy Star appliances. What does that mean? Well, it should mean that the Energy Star appliance should cost LESS than the non-energy star appliance. And, it should cost less than last year's model. Otherwise, the economics aren't there for a lot of end users.
Yeah. I know. What I say above does not apply to changing the light bulbs in the house to CFLs. But it does apply to the balancing of the load in your electrical panel. Rewiring the lighting system of the adobe, etc, etc.
So, to do it right, we need to go deep. To go deep, you need the people and the money. You pretty much need to totally destroy that adobe and start from scratch. I mean, to do it right and not scab things in here and there.
Now, my general management of construction projects, which includes the accounting, I discovered that the cost of scabbing an existing adobe is dramatically more than demolishing and starting new. But, each project needs to be looked at individually.
Anyway, in some areas, in a pragmatic sense, installing PV panels may well be the wise choice over dramatic energy efficiency efforts.
Thanks for the invite. I left comment on Residential PV.
For your place, after reducing the load of your adobe, and seriously balancing the load in your breaker box, something like geothermal would more than likely ROI in a lot fewer years than solar PV. But we'd need to do the math. The Power Companies should assess appliances and equipment, encourage people to buy the highly rated units, and encourage manufacturers to build only high efficient units.
Job specific PV panels would work for your place. That is, your motion sensored security lights can be entirely mains-load free and work off of solar.
Your hot tub can be assisted by solar very simply and economically.
Your transportation idea was a GOOD idea. Learning people is the HARD part. People are NOT learnable without a good sized hammer. Regardless, we all should be driving vehicles at no less than 60mph at this day and age. Is there a reason to save GM, FORD, CHRYSLER? I think not. They are evil to Big MaMa Earth.
Regardless, the best way to handle "green" is to assess each individual case, put the pencil to it, and see what combination of options brings the best ROI for the allowed budget.
The most important part about "green" is doing the homework before spending $20-$40k, before hammering a single nail.
So, there ya go! An excellent business, hey? Residential home analysis. You'd have to profile not only the house, its surroundings, but its family and the local politics. It would a real fun job to have, I'd say.
No problem.
There is good information about state rebates and utility incentives on the web page isent you (www.power-save.com).
For North Carolina incentive info try this link: (http://www.dsireusa.org/library/includes/map2.cfm?CurrentPageID=1&State=NC&RE=1&EE=1)
It doesn't look like there are any utility rebates in NC. Only state tax incentives.
Also. My installer, as part of the service, assisted me in preparing all the forms for utility incentives, as well as all of the city permits, and things like that.
Federal tax incentive is now (as part of the new $700 billion bailout), 30% of the cost of the system. They removed the $2000 cap beginningin 2009.
Good Luck!!!
I saw your comment in Residential PV Solar.
I am installing a Solar PV system on my house which will be activated next week. It goes live next week.
I would recommend against trying the residential PV forum. There are a few anti-PV Zealots lurking about that infect every real discussion we've tried to have.
I can give you some information regarding my decision.
I live in Arizona. With federal tax incentives, state tax incentives, and local utility rebates, the out of pocket cost of my system was reduce to about only 25% of the actual cost. I did have to pay the money up front. I will be reimbursed by the utility after installation and by the government when I do my taxes.
I installed a power save solar system (www.power-save.com). They offered me the best deal.
It is an "on grid" system meaning I feed excess power generated back to my utility and get credit for the KWH's. At night I run off of the utility's power.
The key to the decision is to answer certain questions.
1. How much electricity do you use (KWH/month)?
2. How much do you want to reduce your electricity bill?
3. How big of a system do you need to buy?
4. What is the cost of that system?
5. What are the tax incentives and rebates for your state?
6. How many years will you take to get a return on your investment?
If you have more questions, please let me know. I can help.
Good lucks!!!
Thank you for joinng Green jobs Now!
Melissa
EMAIL A LETTER TO YOUR REPRESENTATIVES BY USING OUR EASY RED "CONTACT CONGRESS" BUTTON - - With little effort, we have the ability here for you to send a letter to President Obama, our Representatives in Washington and your Governor, too.
Go to THE PLEDGE Lend your voice to the call for American energy independence Fill in the short, standard form.
Click here to help organize the New Energy Army in your Congressional District! Sign up to be a District Leader today.
Go to the MY ENERGY page. Register and make your voice count.
Contact and "Friend" the New Energy Army Regional Leader for your state.
If you answered "YES" to Interested in becoming an organizer, there are several things I can recommend. Join the following Groups:
Organizers & Leaders
Online Action Army
Guides & Materials for New Members
Check out the many Groups for Solar, CNG, your area, etc.
Join in on The Discussion Forum.
PICKENS U We are recruiting "Campus Coordinators" for colleges and universities to represent the Pickens Plan on campus.
IDEAS & PROPOSALS FOR PICKENS I know that many of you have great ideas and proposals that you would like to get in front of Boone's team...
They asked us to have you submit all ideas/proposals in writing to the Pickens Plan at: PO Box 12123 Dallas TX 75225.
Thanks again for joining this historical effort. TOGETHER WE CAN DO THIS.
Leslie - Welcome Wagon Volunteer
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