Scott Colvin's Page

Hi Scott!
I want to get the Pickens Idaho group going, got the group registered...i think...but it's not showing when I go to search groups by state :(
can you help?
Kris Metaverso,
Pickens Idaho group (i hope)

Here's how you can help.

PLEASE email the Pickens Plan video to everyone you know. Ask them to join. Ask them to pass it along. Time is of the essence. If every member had 10 friends join today, we could put the number of members over 1 million very quickly!

If we can not get critical numbers how can we take advantage of this golden opportunity? Because of high gas prices, Americans have "woken up" to our plight and a paradigm shift like not other is in the wind. We need to do this now. So many new members write "I want to help, what can I do?" This is a start. We may not get to the next step if we can not get this one done.

Our leaders can not ignore millions of members of the Pickens Plan. We are not there yet. One person can make a difference.

Let me know how it goes.

Hey scott, I used to live in Lyman....close to bow....
we should be friends!

Dear Senator or Representative:

We the people of the United States of America deserve a coherent energy policy that looks toward an energy independent future.

There are numerous examples of nations working toward energy independence. Brazil, for example, has already achieved this goal through sugar cane ethanol and increases in their domestic drilling program, resulting in stable fuel prices not subject to international fluctuations. Please note that many Brazilian alternative fuel vehicles are manufactured by Ford and General Motors but are not available for purchase in the United States.

Iran has initiated a government-subsidized program to convert all cars to natural gas or bifuel (natural gas and gasoline) capability, and to make both fuels available at filling stations.

China’s alternative fuel of choice is methanol. It’s more corrosive than ethanol but doesn’t require organic food sources to produce, instead being made from coal, natural gas, organic or industrial wastes, or even power stations’ smokestack emissions, reducing greenhouse gases and fueling cars at the same time.

There are many other nations that are either working toward energy independence or have already achieved it, including Iceland, India, Israel, Denmark, and Sweden. The too-often vocalized opinion that the United States is incapable of achieving this same goal is absurd.

For too long we have been hostage to external influences over which we have no control. Reliance upon foreign oil has allowed the politics of our international friends no less than those of our enemies to undercut our economic and industrial freedom. This must stop.

Also for too long we have been polluting our own land, air, and water. All forms of toxic emissions must be reduced to preserve a heritage for our descendants.

The elements for energy independence and a more livable environment are present throughout America, including natural gas, wind and solar power, and nuclear energy. The necessary technology is readily available to achieve this goal, allowing for electricity generation and transportation needs by alternative and cleaner means. All that has been lacking is a logical plan to put these pieces together and the leadership to see it through.

Such a plan has recently been proposed by Mr. T. Boone Pickens. As a citizen of these United States, I ask you to support the modify Pickens Plan in your sphere of political influence and to help us achieve energy independence for now and for our children’s future. Enclose is copy of modify Pickens’ plan

Sincerely,




Our Plan that we would like to be enacted into legislation

1. We need a modern, updated national grid system capable of handling alternative energy sources from multiple providers as advocated by the Pickens Plan. We propose that Congress legislate this national grid for harvesting wind, solar, and other power sources from appropriate locations, including the interior wind corridor, offshore wind sources, the solar corridor in the Southwestern states, and others as established through ongoing research and development. Design and preparation for upgrades and/or new construction should be undertaken in the next 24 months, financed by Federal loan guarantees and a $500Bn grant building program.
2. We need a national net metering standard enacted for all states.

Discussion: Net metering is a tariff that allows you (the people) to have your own renewable energy system located at your house or place of business, allowing you to generate electricity on your premises and trade it against your power usage. Essentially, this means your power meter would run backward when you generated power.

A tariff limitation of 10 kW or 100 kW, as is the case in some states, is generally too small for many businesses. The limitation is tied to transmission line capability, and a recent study conducted in Oregon concluded that 2 MW is an appropriate limitation standard. Several states, including California, Nevada, Oregon, and now New York, have already enacted that standard.

Solution: Make 2 MW the national standard for the net metering tariff limitation and apply it both to individual premises, such as residences or businesses, and to community solar or wind parks.

3. We need community solar and wind farms, not only to supply power within local load and service areas, but also to supply electricity to the grid through net metering. However, the current definition of “customer” in the concept of net metering limits its application to individual locations, such as a residence or business, and does not allow for the application of community co-ops. We need to change that definition to allow for such local initiatives within load and service areas, and to allow for orderly grid management of distributed energy systems.

4. We need a comprehensive incentives program, much like the Europeans but different. We need an energy trust of $50Bn, to be managed by the states, as incentives for individuals, businesses, and industries. These incentives can take the form of either tax credits or rebates to encourage the adoption of the renewable energy technology.

5. We have the technology today for wind and solar energy production, and private venture groups are funding all manner of systems. For example, organic dyes developed by the MIT and new work by spectral spitting by the University of Delaware have the potential for solar efficiencies 50%. In addition to these private groups, the Department of Energy has enacted a $10Bn loan guarantee program, which in June 2008 entered its second round of solicitations. We need to support this program. As well, the SBA’s Office of Technology includes award programs to encourage high-tech and alternative energy research and development projects among America’s small businesses. We need to pass their new Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs to provide $300K for phase I (startups) and $2.1Mn for Phase II (expansion and evaluations) with a national goal of $2Bn for these programs.

6. We need a real incentive, not only for American manufacturers to develop more fuel-efficient and alternative energy cars for the American marketplace, but also for Americans to buy and drive these cars.

Discussion: Today Americans are faced with increasing inflationary pressures on their pocketbooks, with higher prices in the areas of energy, food, clothing, and housing. Many Americans are unable to purchase more fuel-efficient cars or convert their current cars to run on alternative fuels. Currently available and future alternatives include the 30 electric car companies in America, some of which have products ready for the market, as well as large automobile manufacturers with forward-looking NG, Flex, hybrid, and electrical cars.

Solution: We need a Federal tax credit ranging from $4K to $16K to assist with the cost of upgrading American automobiles to a minimum mileage of 35 MPG, with an additional $1K credit for every 5 MPG increase above that level.

In addition, the current tax credit of $4K for converting a vehicle from burning gasoline to natural gas should be increased to 50% of the cost of conversion over a three-year period.

7. Finally, we need to enact a 10-year Production Tax Credit for wind, solar, and other renewable energy sources, forcing an end to the “stop and go” policy of past Congresses.

Hello Scott,

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 in America 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 issues of global warming, the transportation of goods and services throughout America, and national security 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. (Germany has 19,000+ wind turbines and millions of solar panels). The incentives make it worthwhile and at the same time direct these countries toward energy independence. WE need to PUSH for this kind of legislation!

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 need 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 and PUSH this plan! We can all share in this vital common cause. Good luck in your quest for a better America….. Lee