Hey JT,
Bill and I live in Mountain View. Do you know of any place around here where we could look into having solar panels put on our roof? Also, would you be interested in coming to a meeting at CVCC in early January? -- Kristin Morris
Hello James, thank you for asking .. I will come back to you tomorrow. I'm a bit rushed at the moment and didn't want to leave you hanging. I appreciate you coming to me.
We'll sidebar and see what we can do.
All the best
RoseMarie LaCoursiere
At 3:40pm on September 12, 2008, James Tracy said…
Howdy James, Glad to have you with US. Please read my profile, blogs, and watch the vids. let me know what you think. Thanks.
At 4:17pm on September 11, 2008, Bobbi Haskins said…
James, I agree with you. This is not about energy, but I wanted to gripe about it anyway. Highway 40 from the being of Burke county to Statesville, our Hwy is terrible. I don't understand why our highway going through our area is so bad. I guess it just goes with all the things you said about our community.
Hello James,
I'm excited to see that other individuals from the Hickory area plugged into this movement. I have to run to a Jaycees board meeting right now but I will be in touch.
I agree with you 100%. I not only work in Hickory, but in the surrounding counties as well. I feel that our neighboring counties are worse off than Catawba. In Alexander, Burke, and Caldwell jobs are obsolete. Many of these people grew up in these counties and work in factories or farms and business is gone. These counties really need some uplifting.
I understand that you are probably thoroughly frustrated with our country’s current policies on energy. That is why we are here at PickensPlan.
I represent a blog about local issues. It is called the Hickory Hound (http://thehickoryhound.blogspot.com/). I have grown tired of the lack of direction here in our local area. Our economy has been stagnant for eight years. We are continuously told that things are on the upswing and that this is going to be our year. We have been told that to the point where it has become meaningless. I never hear many (if any) solutions from our city or county governmental leaders
I don’t know if you’ve checked it out, but none of our local leaders have joined this plan. That’s fine, but the problem I have is that they won’t show leadership on anything. These people have become way to comfortable and they don’t understand how the average citizen lives. Our local officials need to take a chance and lead. We need to be innovative. Why can’t our local leaders get out front on this issue?
The fruit of this energy crisis is ripe for the picking. Our local government needs to take a chance and lead. Why can’t we get in on the ground floor of the energy revolution? I think we should push for alternative energy and future transportation companies to locate here.
If you agree with where I’m coming from and believe that there needs to be some checks and balances on our community’s direction, then please join me at http://thehickoryhound.blogspot.com/.
Our objective is to get our community more involved and put power back into the citizen’s hands. We need to wake our local leaders up. We need to shake up the good ole boy network that has basically allowed this town to stagnate. We want our local government to become more responsive and user friendly, so that we can get more participation in the process. That is what representative Democracy is all about.
glad to be with you. forest city is just a hour from hickory. i ve had several friends that went to lenoir rhyne college. keep up the good work. you sound like a real go-getter. what is your job? i am semi retired but might sell the windspire for mariah power(see bill mollring on my page) if there is enough wind in this area. later....
Where is our economic and social justice when it comes to the problems we face in this country? We the people of the United States own this country. Our representatives, who are supposed to work for us, are blocking us from getting what we mandate. In corporate America they would be fired for such insubordinance.
An example is the current energy crisis. I don’t believe that many of our legislators truly understand how dramatic this situation is. Billions of dollars are leaving our country daily, while the dollar continues to weaken, and rogue nations are propped up by insane policies. The bureaucracy has cooked the books to the point of telling us that everything’s fine and we aren’t in a recession. If they want to live in fantasyland that’s ok, but don’t do it at our expense.
It’s time for bickering to cease and action to begin! Most of this country’s issues are not complex, but many of our legislators are ruining our future by putting their personal interests ahead of national interests. What they are doing is treasonous. I often wonder if an Economic Depression would be enough reign in their arrogance.
The Declaration of Independence states, “…governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it…”
We deserve representation. Much of what King George was doing 232 years ago is being done to us today by a federal government that has lost perspective. The bureaucracy has created a class amongst itself. They have forgotten that they have their jobs at the discretion of the citizens and seem to believe that we are here for their disposal.
Common sense allows for the belief that we are all unique individuals and therefore we are going to have differences of opinion on important issues. But, we cannot allow those differences to create this bitterness that will not allow us to progress as a society. We should immediately act on issues where we share similar beliefs and work diligently to see where we share common ground on the most divisive issues.
I refuse to believe that we are all so different that we cannot agree on anything of substance, but that is how we are currently being governed. America the Super Power has become its own worst enemy. Our complacency and unwillingness to move forward in this new age will destroy all we have inherited.
It is disrespectful to previous generations to squander what they worked hard, sacrificed, and fought to give us and immoral to pass on our gluttonous debts to generations that have yet to be born. Do you realize how easily our liberty can slip away?
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!
Our leaders can not ignore millions of members of the Pickens Plan. We are not there yet. One person can make a difference.
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.
James Thomas Shell's Comments
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Bill and I live in Mountain View. Do you know of any place around here where we could look into having solar panels put on our roof? Also, would you be interested in coming to a meeting at CVCC in early January? -- Kristin Morris
We'll sidebar and see what we can do.
All the best
RoseMarie LaCoursiere
I'm excited to see that other individuals from the Hickory area plugged into this movement. I have to run to a Jaycees board meeting right now but I will be in touch.
Zeph
I understand that you are probably thoroughly frustrated with our country’s current policies on energy. That is why we are here at PickensPlan.
I represent a blog about local issues. It is called the Hickory Hound (http://thehickoryhound.blogspot.com/). I have grown tired of the lack of direction here in our local area. Our economy has been stagnant for eight years. We are continuously told that things are on the upswing and that this is going to be our year. We have been told that to the point where it has become meaningless. I never hear many (if any) solutions from our city or county governmental leaders
I don’t know if you’ve checked it out, but none of our local leaders have joined this plan. That’s fine, but the problem I have is that they won’t show leadership on anything. These people have become way to comfortable and they don’t understand how the average citizen lives. Our local officials need to take a chance and lead. We need to be innovative. Why can’t our local leaders get out front on this issue?
The fruit of this energy crisis is ripe for the picking. Our local government needs to take a chance and lead. Why can’t we get in on the ground floor of the energy revolution? I think we should push for alternative energy and future transportation companies to locate here.
If you agree with where I’m coming from and believe that there needs to be some checks and balances on our community’s direction, then please join me at http://thehickoryhound.blogspot.com/.
Our objective is to get our community more involved and put power back into the citizen’s hands. We need to wake our local leaders up. We need to shake up the good ole boy network that has basically allowed this town to stagnate. We want our local government to become more responsive and user friendly, so that we can get more participation in the process. That is what representative Democracy is all about.
Together We Can Do This,
James Thomas Shell
Where is our economic and social justice when it comes to the problems we face in this country? We the people of the United States own this country. Our representatives, who are supposed to work for us, are blocking us from getting what we mandate. In corporate America they would be fired for such insubordinance.
An example is the current energy crisis. I don’t believe that many of our legislators truly understand how dramatic this situation is. Billions of dollars are leaving our country daily, while the dollar continues to weaken, and rogue nations are propped up by insane policies. The bureaucracy has cooked the books to the point of telling us that everything’s fine and we aren’t in a recession. If they want to live in fantasyland that’s ok, but don’t do it at our expense.
It’s time for bickering to cease and action to begin! Most of this country’s issues are not complex, but many of our legislators are ruining our future by putting their personal interests ahead of national interests. What they are doing is treasonous. I often wonder if an Economic Depression would be enough reign in their arrogance.
The Declaration of Independence states, “…governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it…”
We deserve representation. Much of what King George was doing 232 years ago is being done to us today by a federal government that has lost perspective. The bureaucracy has created a class amongst itself. They have forgotten that they have their jobs at the discretion of the citizens and seem to believe that we are here for their disposal.
Common sense allows for the belief that we are all unique individuals and therefore we are going to have differences of opinion on important issues. But, we cannot allow those differences to create this bitterness that will not allow us to progress as a society. We should immediately act on issues where we share similar beliefs and work diligently to see where we share common ground on the most divisive issues.
I refuse to believe that we are all so different that we cannot agree on anything of substance, but that is how we are currently being governed. America the Super Power has become its own worst enemy. Our complacency and unwillingness to move forward in this new age will destroy all we have inherited.
It is disrespectful to previous generations to squander what they worked hard, sacrificed, and fought to give us and immoral to pass on our gluttonous debts to generations that have yet to be born. Do you realize how easily our liberty can slip away?
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!
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.
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.
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