Getting Off the Oil Addiction

Make alternative fuels COST EFFECTIVE and we'll be off oil in a heartbeat. However, as long as anybody (and everybody) gets government subsidies by jumping on the alternative energy bandwagon, it will go nowhere. Invest (and risk) capital in the alternative energy solution and make it cost effective. You'll be richer than T. Boone. STOP EXPECTING GOVERNMENT TO SOLVE IT. Or else the energy sector will be the next "crisis".

I think no one will argue that we are in an energy crisis. We attain the majority of our oil from foreign sources, some of which are hostile to the US. The Pickens plan is about a bridge which enables us to use existing and proven resources and technology to reduce our dependence on hostile foreign oil sources. He's not talking about you and me having to go out and purchase a CNG vehicle. Incidentally, Toyota just announced production of CNG vehicles for the US market by 2010, joining Honda. He's not talking about the US not buying more oil from Canada and Mexico. He isn't unrealistic in saying no oil in 10 years. Mr. Pickens is talking about a national effort to convert the heavy fuel users, which are the large trucks, 18 wheelers, etc. Many municipalities in the US are already using CNG in the trash haulers, buses and other city vehicles with their own pumps onsite. Many nongovernmental companies like Super Shuttle, Yellow Cab and UPS converted to CNG years ago because it makes economic sense. It complies with Ca smog requirements, which I believe may be the toughest in the nation. Mr. Pickens freely states that he is for all alternatives. He puts it as "anything american." Could you imagine an additional $700 billion dollars annually from americans to americans? Is there anything that could be a better boost to our economy? From Jason's questions: Please, go out and buy a hybrid or an electric car. It fits right in with the Pickens plan and reduces foreign oil demand in the US today. As for your question about trains, large electric engines can be built with enormous horsepower, but require a massive energy source. Electric trains are permanently attached to their power source(the tracks). It is the battery technology that hasn't yet advanced enough to power big trucks, heavy haulers, buses, mobile construction equipment, etc. You could build them now, but the size and weight of the batteries (current technology) would make the vehicles useless for their purpose. Maybe power over wireless transmission will be one of the answers for this problem in the future. The problem that faces all of us today is our dependence on foreign oil and the Pickens plan provides the best real and doable solution I have seen. His rally is for us to DEMAND the next President of the US to provide a real energy solution within the first 100 days of his term. I know of no american that can argue with that.

Pickens plan is just a money grab. When people start putting Compressed Natural Gas into their cars, the price will go through the roof. This will leave low income people who cook and heat with Natural Gas hungry and cold. How do I know this? CNG much be pumped from the same gas stations that are gouging us today. His windmill plan is a cash cow for Pickens and the real loosers will be the tax payers. While the windmills are generate power, each one requires wire and switch gear to hook up to the grid. YOU the tax payer will be required to pay that bill for his cash machines. Not to mention all the farm land that will have his windmills on their land and they don't make money off of it. The REAL story is this. Forget Pickens and the other get richer quicker plans. I would rather buy a battery made in the USA to power an electric car that deal with BP and others to get CNG. Every train engine on the tracks are powered with electric motors. Tell me why they can't do that for cars?

Natural gas, now there is an interesting thing. Was only a few years ago that the gas companies told us that we did not have enough and that the cost of heating homes was going up. Well since then we have been paying $4-500 a month to heat our homes during the winter. Now we have enough of the stuff to use it for just about anything. So when is the price going down????????