Clean Energy Future
Background:
While avoiding near term costs for energy investment, we have pushed a bow wave of problems before us that are swamping the economy and our environment. The consequences of those deferred costs are precipitating global problems and require immediate attention. Consumption of polluting fuel that we have to borrow to buy is a dead end and dumping money into a 100 year old energy architecture mires us deeper into a situation with no future.
Here is an example of how to make a difference now:http://www.tokyo-gas.co.jp/pefc_e/index.html
Investing in future eco-friendly, home grown, engineered for the future energy technology will improve our life quality and is a foundation for economic health. What is it, exactly, we are waiting for? What should we do?
1. Deploy New Generation Methods
1.1.Wind
1.2.Solar
1.3.New Hydro
1.4.Tidal Motion
1.5.Fuel Cells
2. Improve Transmission Efficiencies
2.1.Re-architect Grid Pipelines and Controls
2.2.Reduce Transmission Distances
2.3.Generate Electricity at Point of Use
3. Address Availability Issues
3.1.Interleave Generation Methods
3.2.Use Storage Sparingly
3.3.Rely on Homeland Fuel Sources
4. Collapse Technology Time to Market
4.1.Leverage Current Assets to Transition
4.2.Establish 5 Year Engineering Standards
4.3.Subsidize Technology Deployment
4.4.Use Regional Fabrication, Construction and Service
5. Prioritize Investment Longevity
5.1.Invest for the Future
5.2.Build for Long Life Cycle
5.3.Establish Strong Quality Standards
6. Improve Energy Security
6.1.Design for Catastrophic Weather Events
6.2.Leverage Local and Regional Fuel Sources
6.3.Distribute Generation
6.4.Bury Transmission Lines
7. Integrate Energy Generation and Usage
7.1.Home Fueling Stations
7.2.Residential Power Generation
7.3.Onboard Electric Rail Power
7.4.Electric Autos with On Board Fuel Cell Rechargers
I like some of the details of the Barack Obama 10 year energy plan, but it is too long for us. We need to implement some changes right now. If we don't, this world will not be here too long. This is not a game. We have destroyed the arctic wildlife to the point where the polar bears are becoming extinct. Now to some it would be easier to just ignore it and say that it won't affect us. But don't you understand that one species affects the other? If one dies off, it affects others. If we let the earth die, we die with it. It is not up to us to determine how we are to affect life on this planet. It is up to the man above. How are we to become stewards of the land if we don't care.
We think we have 30 years before the melting of the arctic affects the human race. But how do we know that? Don't you know that the speed at which ice melts increases with time? This means that the arctic is melting at an exponential rate. We must plan to live in a different climate. Some land that is dry will become non-existant.
Nov. 15, 2008
To: President-elect Obama
Re: Real National Security With The Development Of A National Energy Plan and A Method To Finance It With out Resort To Tax Revenues
'United Stated Energy Bonds' and 'United States Energy Stamps'
Immediate funding for the new national alternative energy infrastructure
Immediate funding for millions of jobs in the least possible time
Dear Sir:
Within every problem lies an opportunity. We can immediately take advantage of this truth and greatly benefit our country by addressing several problems simultaneously.
We need a large number of new jobs for the people of America, (millions of jobs ASAP).
We need to raise a trillion dollars a year in capital for the next ten or so years to build a new alternative energy base for our country.
We need to raise this enormous sum of money, to the greatest extent, without recourse to the financial industry, which is in turmoil and is likely to remain so for a long time, or to the country's general tax revenues, of which there are not nearly enough for all the other demands already being made upon them.
The government is fiscally stretched, with huge deficits and it will be difficult to fund programs that will put people to work, without fueling inflation.
An old idea, modernized: Liberty Bonds can solve all these problems.
United States Energy Backed Financial Instruments are an excellent alternative solution, that will generate enormous amounts of capital without upsetting other areas of the economy. There is a huge pool of money available within our country and around the world that could purchase these instruments. These instruments can be offered within a very short period of time, 60 to 90 days after you are sworn in.
Energy bonds will very quickly generate hundreds of billions of dollars, and eventually as the loans are repaid and the funds reloan, create a capital fund of several trillions of dollars.
United States Energy Backed Financial Instruments would be placed with the citizens of our country or citizens of the world. They would pay a modest interest and would be repaid from the money that is saved or earned from the energy projects both small and large, that are funded with the money raised through them.
The money raised with Energy Bonds should be legally segregated from the general funds raised through taxes and other revenue procedures of the Federal Government, allowing the energy fund to build to the tremendous level that will be required to redevelop our energy generation and energy use infrastructure. These funds should not be commingled in any way with other government funds. This money should be loaned or in rare instances, used for loan guarantees. The money would never be given or granted. With time, as this pool of money grows, enormous amounts of money will be available to help launch the many large alternative energy projects the business and industrial sectors of United States must build: (high mileage autos, solar thermal generators, solid state power panel manufacturing and other facilities to produce all the necessary equipment and systems)and also, to capitalize the very great amount of work, the people must do, (home energy improvements, water and air heating systems, heat pumps, distributed end use solar electric systems, et c.), to re-found our country on a new secure energy base.
Eventually, in ten or twenty or thirty years, when the new alternative energy infrastructure has come into existence, and when the enormous pool of funds is no longer required, the money might be turned over to the social security administration to help offset the enormous cost of social security and other entitlement programs. The U.S. is facing huge funding deficits for these social programs, daunting problems that have no apparent solution at this time. The future Energy Bond Fund, having served it's intended purpose, might also help solve these deficit problems at that time.
In conclusion and summary,
(1) that Energy Backed Securities would be unique revenue instruments that would only fund projects that could pay the interest and repay the principal using the money from the sale of the energy produced or saved by those projects.
(2) that the money raised with these instruments would be raised apart from Wall Street. In this way, the shortage of ready credit in the financial community will have little or no effect on the raising of money needed to finance a new alternative energy infrastructure.
(3) that these funds would be raised apart from and with out resort to, the general tax or other revenues of the U.S. government, which are already inadequate to meet other demands.
(4) that rebuilding and re-founding our energy generation and use infrastructure will generate millions of new jobs across the U.S. and in accomplishing these things, as many as fifty million jobs will be created and recreated during the next fifteen or so years. This undertaking will be the primary engine of growth for the economy of the United States for the foreseeable future.
(5) that financing that infrastructure with funds raised with Energy Bonds and similar energy backed instruments, will accomplish this more quickly than any other alternative.
(6) that the Economy will boom as all this money flows into the hands of our people.
(7) that the unique repayment situation with United States Energy Backed Securities will make them the most secure financial instruments on earth.
In these ways, many problems and many opportunities can combine to create many excellent solutions.
There are several other benefits to using Energy Backed Securities, but time and space are limited.
I hope you see value in these securities and are able to quickly implement their use.
Thank you for your time and attention.
Sincerely,
James Flaherty
Guilford, Ct 06437
There's always been more than one way to skin a cat. My favorite is a 1/2 inch thick steel box with a hole in big enough for a finch to fit through and stick dynamite. At a temperature of 3,000 °C
Okay - the bar has been reset and now it is time to let loose the next stage of the new society. As a nation we have proven ourselfs adult enough to act as one people -- now we can focus on what is really important.. I think the first 100 days will be a challange, but nothing we cant digest. Within 200 I feel our new president will be brining his wisdom to bear on the older issues -- but at the 300 day mark its time to get to work on our next stage as a people.
A united effort to focus our efforts as a country on the energy issue(s) will both help with current employment concerns and help secure the US a place in the emmerging economy which we have been forced to give up over the past 8 years.. nanotech. Impacts energy, computation, medical and manufacturing technologies as only a primer and the best part is the folks who can make it happen are walking the earth now.. look what we did this week.
I have something of a working idea - starting with a natural gas distribution network (with the conversion of existing vehicles and other current technology capabilities to start) this will help with the basic materials science we are seeing from nanomaterials now. Next we hold a planned evolution as we have built this gas distribution network as an upgradable resource for hydrogen -- reuse of this resource as we move forward with the new technologies. H is the fuel in fuel cells and introduction and catalyst/coatings of these new materials in the components come directly from work completed while building the fuel lines. Very much building on discoveries as we move forward (worked as built up to the Apollo missions).
Hey, its a simple pitch now - the numbers are only now coming into the model. Its at most, less than 1/4 of our "oil war" - and should even be attractive to the current companies who have blocked this technology all along - yes, its a new pipline and yes, starts as an internal combustion solution. But it does challnege those who have built the dangerous relationships in the middle east (and have shaping our most complex political problems).
The foundation -- Ill say it again, nanotech. It is the key catalyst to allowing for evolution in fuel cells, efficient energy systems and unimaginable new opportunities in all facets of the economy. And althought years from nanoassemblers, we gain expereince that keeps that technology safe.
In short, we must invest in the materials sciences now, then toward systems integration with these technologies and finally adjust the course on next steps based on what we find along the way - as with all things, the destination is a moving target and should plan for it plan accordingly..
Thanks for reading this far -- and I appologize that this is only able to be explained in elaborate models.. and getting the point across that everyone can participate is the challenge now (ie all skillsets can be used - from build the new fuels pipelines to modifying exisitng systems to education programs on how to adapt - everyone will make a contribution). And remeber, this is hands-on nature of the 2nd industrial evolution - The Nanoscale Evolution - which allows everyone to participate again.
I will add most of the IP is being developed in other countries - we must either partner or invest to ensure we can hold a position in this new age.. perhaps a reason to open new discussions with the marginalized... the best part of our new administration.
Think small - a suitable challenge: Kennedy's Moon Challenge comes to mind - and it is more than just one country on the other side of the fence (many with surprising allies).
Economy - Employment - Energy - Technology - Environment.
Of course, tax policy isn't the only issue here. The dismal performance of the Bush administration has many causes: deregulation and loose oversight; an energy policy in service of the oil companies, with no attention to the implications for the environment and the potential of green jobs; lack of respect for science; and an education policy that focuses on testing. Unfortunately, John McCain has embraced the policies of George Bush. He may be promising to change some of his positions, but why take the chance? Rich people, and people who want to do well and have your children do well: the Obama/Biden ticket is the one for you.
Obama will enact a windfall profits tax on oil companies to provide a $1000 energy rebate to struggling American families. John McCain will provide a $3,800,000,000 ($3.8 Billion) tax cut to the five largest oil companies (Exxon-Mobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Valero Energy, and Marathon).
At a time when big oil is making record profits and oil executives are taking home millions why do these companies need a tax break? As the most knowledgeable energy expert in the United States of America perhaps Sarah Palin can tell us?
To make it worse, McCain (and I'm assuming Palin) are against giving a tax rebate to American families. Pro-Multi Billion Dollar Corporation, Anti-American family. That hardly seems like a strategy to get elected... But
Why,if we really do need to drill for more oil is no one talking about what is fair for the amercan people. I fully agree we need a wide spectrum energy plan and investment.I think the oil companies should turn in what leases they are not using in exchange for offshore rights. Also thay should agree to ONLY bring that oil to the US, not another market. I also believe it is up to the states to decide. Drill drill drill is not an energy plan or fair to the the american people.That is our oil. And why all of a sudden is the word energy used for oil? It is OIL.It is a transportation issue. reasoable people know this. I think it is a fair policy debate,one we should begin. Lets start with what will benifit the american people first and the oil co. second. I know there is more to this issue,however it has been on my mind for awhile.
Oh ,Alaska has the corner on windfall profits tax as everyone knows.
Rather than duplicate my posts here, please
read about the fallacy of John McCain's Energy Plan and
the problems with Nuclear Power at my blog on blogspot
http://mikeby.blogspot.com/2008/08/test.html
The next time you read or hear someone say "Obama has a vague energy plan!" here's a way to effectively correct them. Senator Obama is now on the record - supporting a comprehensive program to wean America off its addiction to foreign energy. The plan (the bullet pointed version is below and convenient for copy/paste/printing.)
Commit one idea to memory as a quick response... should you be confronted by someone parroting a version of McBrokenRecord's, "Obama's energy program is about using a tire pressure guage!" Simply say: "Maintaining your car and its tires is common sense... and should be part of YOUR energy program. Obama's ideas are SOOOOO much more!" Then hand (or email) them this:
Do you really believe that Chevron and Exxon Mobil are investing in our future energy needs? Little people like you and me? Are oil executives (salaried at 5-15 million a year) on our side? Cheney thought so when he asked oil lobbyists to help set US energy policy. But aren’t multinational oil companies global, located in places like Dubai? Oddly, John McCain is ready to drill to their bidding. I guess they don’t have enough undeveloped leases or government subsidies to keep their pockets full.
Republicans should know by now that clean, renewable energy policy will not be set by the old order. So if you are feeling manipulated, realize one thing: our energy future cannot be tied to our energy past.
The future of carbon generating fuels is no longer economically or environmentally viable. Only a solid renewable energy strategy will yield independence from multinational oil interests, help us deal with peak oil and revitalize our economy. Only independent direction and priorities will help us catch up to countries like Iceland, Brazil and Germany.
Obama’s New Energy Plan enacts a windfall tax on oil companies record-breaking profits, invests $150 billion in clean energy and gives 150 million workers a ‘Making Work Pay’ family tax credit of $1,000. It will not let the oil companies determine our future.
Barack Obama - 'PURE GENIOUS!"
I have created a new event under the NH page, however anyone can join. I was struck by an article found through a link on CNN.com yesterday. The article talked about how GOP people were mocking Obama's energy plan and stated that he was out of touch. They were mailing out tire pressure gauges titled Obama's energy plan. The article went on to back the Obama energy plan and stated that there is scientific data to back Obama's plan and that it was truthful to state that if everyone in America used a tire pressure gauge and properly inflated their tires, then the USA could save the equivalent of drilling offshore in the gulf. I want everyone to pledge to buy Tire Pressure Gaugest this weekend to show the world that we believe in Obama's plan and are ready to take his lead and do what is asked of us to help our country and our planet. Join with me and purchase tire gauges, if you already have them and use them, then purchase a few and hand them out with the message from Obama...that we can do this together.
Take action here:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/communityservice/44bz2
All-
The energy "crisis" that we face as Americans is certainly our fault due to government and corporate greed, American laziness, lack of education and the will to be lullabied to sleep over issues that could develop our country, and every other country.
As Americans we should wake up! We are the number one consumer on this planet, yet we still have not utilized our consumed items and tranformed the items into energy. Methane gas has been around for years, and is created within every trash pile, yet the powers that be want to promote other energy sources to keep their foot pressed down on the American consumer's neck. Methane is the perfect source to heat and power our homes. Why are we spending tax money on research for hydrogen?
The lies continue with the energy ability to power our cars. Does anyone remember the EV-1 made by GMC. This vehicle was a totally electric car and was a ROCKET!!! THAT'S RIGHT! AMERICAN INVENTION CREATED THE FUTURE FOR THE WORLD!!! But the money to be made over the long-term was too long of a wait due to the immediate money made by parts, labor, service and let's not forget the gas industry. The powers that be also said that we didn't have the battery technology to support the engine, but the same batteries that power our laptops, cell-phones, dvd's, etc. can be used for our future. Consequently, they sent the EV-1 cars to the crushers and tried to perform memory wipes on the few Americans that had a glimpse of the future.
America appears to be a bunch of corporate adolescents digging in the government cookie jar of money. No one worried about the future. The free love, drug infested generation that is currently in power has effectively caste their worries on us, the future, by promoting a sense of sluggardness over steadfastness. In search for money to take care of the bodies that they abused when they were our age the "Hippy" generation have sold us out. Why do you think the drug companies are so pervasive now? No one is serious about global warming or the war. If they were, they would stop funding the people that try to kill us and fight effectively... put together an energy plan and bring the world back to American competency and invention. But it appears that greed has become the new and true American virtue that will kill us all.
I have recently returned from Iraq as a defense contractor. I was working in (C5) Taji, (F1) Baghdad, (T1) Tallil and (G6) Diwaniyah. In the wake of all the mishaps, misrepresentation and mismanagement going on around the country I believe that two possible cures that may resolve some of our current issues are developing an alternate fuels energy plan and a North and South American Trade Union. Being a witness to the war first hand gives a person a sense of false expertise, so please feel free to contest and shoot holes in this theory so we can cultivate, I feel, a decent and thoughtful idea on our current situation in America.
North and South American Trade Union- Amnesty/Military/Immigration: Travel between all participating countries will move unabated with newly formed documentation authenticating a persons' place of origin to North or South America. All participating countries will adhere to a strict immigration and customs laws pertaining to terrorist related countries. All migrant workers from neighboring North and South American countries in America will receive a work visa while applying for American citizenship. Those applying for American citizenship, that are physically able and not in school, will join the military services for four (4) out of the five (5) years it takes to establish American citizenship. This will help refurbish our dwindling military numbers and broaden our borders. Businesses pay wages equal to the market present in the country of operation. This will help with new/small/big business ventures for American entrepreneurs. All participating countries submit a number of troops governed by a newly created body formed by the participating country leaders to protect our common interest.
War on Terror: We have heard from the military leaders in Iraq that the solution to the issues going on in Iraq can not be solved through military prowess. So the withdrawal of troops from Iraq is understandable; but what about the threat of terrorists attacking America again? The only way to stop terrorists from traveling, creating, networking, etc. is to stop funding their events! Why do we pay for our own self destruction, in this day and age of technology, by buying overpriced dinosaur bones? A switch to a fuel source like ethanol will create a bound with our neighbors in South America, people who want our patronage, and not the Middle East, sworn enemies.
Jobs for the Middle-Class/Balanced Budget: Although America can not create enough ethanol for the amount of consumption that we use we will need to reach out to our southern neighbors. This will establish the much needed financial boost to our economy by the trade of goods to all nations involved. The new industry created will establish new jobs here and abroad. If we compare the population of South America and the Middle East the amount of economic growth in South America is staggering!!! However, this means more money out initially, but a balanced budget when the industries pickup.
Global warming: Obviously, the use of alternative fuels will prevent use from snubbing our responsibility to all of earth’s inhabitants. Alaska alone, revamped with wind mill technology, can help reduce or eliminate the power shortages out in California. Solar panels can be placed in desert areas that can not be inhabited. What happened to hydro-powered plants and the dam? Why not build more dams and hydro-powered facilities in South America. Not a fan of a nuclear plant in your back yard? Nuclear energy plants can be built and housed in South America and the power sold to us cheaply. The continents of North and South America can be fueled with the strategic placement of wind mills, solar-powered, hydro-powered and nuclear plants.
I believe that anyone who runs on, and explains well, the ideas of a TRUE energy plan and North and South American trade union not only would win the Presidential race, but will win the hearts and minds of the America people. Please respond with opposing or agreeing thoughts.
Respectfully
