Thomas Laquercia's Page
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- Are you interested in becoming an organizer in your area?
- Yes
- Tell us about your experience with alternative energy:
- About 4-5 years ago I came across an article in Wired.com that spoke about the potential of wind power. Since then I've done a considerable amount of reading about wind power and the wind-energy industry and firmly believe that wind power has the potential to break our dependency on oil.
If we can create an environment that will enable the wind-energy industry to grow (i.e. tax breaks, funding for R&D and incentives) we will be able to tell the dictators and terrorists of the Middle East to drop dead.
- What excites you about this campaign?
- I believe that T. Boone Pickens has the vision, finances and relationships to jump start the wind industry into a profitable growth industry, much like the technology industry.
- What do you want to do to help?
- I'd like to work directly for T. Boone Pickens and be a part of freeing our country from this nosedive known as oil dependency.
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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: michael.kendall@ymail.com
$700 BILLION PER YEAR
We are transferring $700 billion each year, 7 trillion in the next 10 years, to unstable and antagonistic regimes. Americans are angry and ready as never before, to take dramatic steps to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. A plan to replace foreign oil with American solutions has appeared on the horizon, we intend to help Pickens turn this hope into reality- energy independance for our country.
SHARE THE PLAN
with your circle of friends, family and associates. Urge them to JOIN. From your own experience you know it is very much like simply signing a petition. The larger our membership the more likely we will be successful in getting Congress to provide effective incentives for alternative and renewable energies and in insuring that our future president will treat energy independence as a matter of the greatest urgency, applying the same kind of leadership as JFK exercised when he led us with his stirring challenge to put a man on the moon in 10 years.
THERE IS NO TIME TO DELAY
…to wait and see…or to see if someone else will step up to the plate. It is time for US to roll up our sleeves and go to work. Right now momentum is working in our favor, but if gas prices retreat, the public will forget the pain, and our moment may be lost. How frightening to think that we could be looking back and apologizing to our children that we chose not to get this done when we had the chance.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Check out Pickens "August Call to Action"- for a course of action!
Here is an informative video "Topeka, Kansas Town Hall Meeting": http://www.pickensplan.com/news/2008/08/04/video-of-the-topeka-town-hall
Here is Boone's appearrance on Larry King Live: http://www.pickensplan.com/news/2008/08/05/last-nights-larry-king-live-appearance/
I will surely accept if you invite me to be your “friend”.
PERSONAL ACTION OPTIONS
We need to do more than “preach to the choir”. Sharing ideas with each other is encouraging but that will not 1) increase our membership nor 2) influence public policy. If you know someone in the press or someone who blogs - get them to cover this. Write to your Congressman/woman. Ask those in the public eye to support this plan. Print downloadable flyers and put them in your car and/or business window.
YOU MAY FEEL INSIGNIFICANT
Individually, we each feel the same way, but together we will lay the foundation for a stronger, more prosperous and more secure America. Thanks again for joining us in this historical effort!
A GROUP FOR EVERYONE
Check out the Legislation Tracking and Write Congress groups as well as the various groups for Solar, CNG, etc. Connect, learn and share. We grow stronger with your input. If you don't see a group that speaks to your interest, then start a group of your ow
You never know 'Who' will notice our new group -- or how it will grow. I'm all about creating your own opportunities in life and it seems that Mr. Pickens is attracting like-minded people from all walks of life.......many looking for jobs, and executives realizing they need great people in their companies and in their fields.......the alternative energies is the new frontier that will solve many problems across our great country and abroad. Without doubt it will create jobs and keep them in our great country.
I wish you the very best in successes.
RoseMarie LaCoursiere