Very interesting....

[Tim]

YouTube - T. Boone Pickens TV Commercial

YouTube - T. Boone Pickens Explains His Plan


Thoughts?

 

[Peter Parka]

It's very worrying. Unfortunately politicians are only looking at the short term, what's good for them and important things like this will be left until its too late.

 

[dt3]

I think it's brilliant. Like he says, it won't solve it forever, but it is a damn good place to start.

 

[GraceAbounds]

I think it's brilliant. Like he says, it won't solve it forever, but it is a damn good place to start.

:homo:

 

[groundpounder]

I love third party candidates, because they raise issues in a way that neither side can do because of politics. Good stuff.

He won't get elected because of partisan politics, but I bet he'd make an excellent President. Just once, I'd like to see and independent get elected and have democrats and Republicans in his/her Cabinet. It would alter US politics FOREVER

 

[teh_fuzz]

I see the propellers being hauled by buge ass 18 wheelers around Houston's freeways!
Them fuckers are BIG!

 

[thatguyjeff]

I'm all for alternative, renewable energy. Couple things...

There's no mention of what it would cost to set up a natural gas fueling infrastructure. What's that going to cost? Who's going to pay for it? 10 years to replace gas stations? How will the fuel be transported? Do we need new gas lines running all over to deliver natural gas to consumers?

The US wind corridor runs through the center of the US agricultural base. Will we be replacing agriculture with wind farms? There have already been murmurs of some food shortages around the world. I have a feeling this winter we might start actually feeling that in the US.

The heavy rains this spring caused late planting in many states. In addition, the later flooding has destroyed many crops this season. Can we (not just the US, but the world - the US provides grain for much of the world) afford to replace land needed for agriculture with wind farms?

 

[groundpounder]

I've seen those wind farms right smack dab in the middle of a corn field. I don't think they would give rise to a food shortage by taking over the heartland. Minimal parasitic impact to crop yield.

You raise some good points.

 

[teh_fuzz]

There was a plan for some time to put them in the Gulf of Mexico, but i believe that was shot down

 

[thatguyjeff]

I've seen those wind farms right smack dab in the middle of a corn field. I don't think they would give rise to a food shortage by taking over the heartland. Minimal parasitic impact to crop yield.

You raise some good points.

The towers themselves probably only take up about 100 square feet each, but when multiplied by how many thousand would be needed...

But it's not only the towers. There needs to be access roads, power storage/transfer stations, towers for lines (unless they are buried = more money and greater potential negative impact on the soil).

I've been trying to find some numbers on how much space a wind farm uses and I'm not finding much. It would be nice to know some space/megawatt numbers or something like that. If anyone finds anything, please share.

 

[groundpounder]

I see what your saying and it's a valid point. All I was saying is that relative to fields I've seen them occupy, it's a small percentage per tower.

100 square feet is less than one quarter of one percent of an acre (which is 43,560 square feet.) Millions upon MILLIONS of acres of open land in the area in question.

 

[groundpounder]

I don't see the crop displacement as being the limiting factor, I guess

 

[groundpounder]

In actuality, the ones I have seen are about 20-30 feet across their base, which would be anywhere from 400-900 square feet, which is 1-2% of an acre.

 

[GraceAbounds]

I love third party candidates, because they raise issues in a way that neither side can do because of politics. Good stuff.

He won't get elected because of partisan politics, but I bet he'd make an excellent President. Just once, I'd like to see and independent get elected and have democrats and Republicans in his/her Cabinet. It would alter US politics FOREVER

:clap:clap:clap:clap:clap:clap:clap:clap:clap

 

[Tim]

I love third party candidates, because they raise issues in a way that neither side can do because of politics. Good stuff.

He won't get elected because of partisan politics, but I bet he'd make an excellent President. Just once, I'd like to see and independent get elected and have democrats and Republicans in his/her Cabinet. It would alter US politics FOREVER

I didn't think he was a candidate for president... and independent? He is Republican through and through. He is the one who funded the Swift Boat adds.

Actually I really don't care about him or his political past/future. I only care about the message he is putting out there now. I think he is onto something here, it needs to grow legs.

 

[groundpounder]

I didn't think he was a candidate for president... and independent? He is Republican through and through. He is the one who funded the Swift Boat adds.

Actually I really don't care about him or his political past/future. I only care about the message he is putting out there now. I think he is onto something here, it needs to grow legs.

I could be wrong. I was thinking he was going to run an independent campaign..
By independent, I mean not party ticket. If he runs, Barack's a lock, just like Perot in 92 cost 41 the White House. Which ironically led to one of the most morally bankrupt but best president's of the last 100 years. Figure that one out.

I figured you didn't care for him or his political aspirations because he's Repub. If he was Dem, he'd probably be your front runner for Veep :24:
:jk
I kid because I care :smiley31::flowers:
:winking:

 

[IntruderLS1]

I think it should be a federal law that all new structures, be it a home, business, or parking lean-too, be constructed with solar panels. In a hundred years, this entire country would be one big energy producing machine. Free of charge, free of pollution.

If you consider the price of construction, you're talking about a 1% cost addition that will pay itself off in a very short amount of time. I think current payoff on a home solar power system is 7 years in California.

 

[IntruderLS1]

Just watched the movies. The man is off to a great start. I'd love to see it given the old college try.

 

[groundpounder]

...Free of charge, free of pollution....

easy there, Captain
I admire your enthusiasm, that's for sure

 

[Tim]

I think it should be a federal law that all new structures, be it a home, business, or parking lean-too, be constructed with solar panels. In a hundred years, this entire country would be one big energy producing machine. Free of charge, free of pollution.

If you consider the price of construction, you're talking about a 1% cost addition that will pay itself off in a very short amount of time. I think current payoff on a home solar power system is 7 years in California.

Germany is doing something along those lines and it's paying off big time.

But we still need to consider geographical location... Unfortunately I have looked into wind and solar power in my area and right now the costs wouldn't be recouped for decades. I'm not in the sun belt or in the wind corridor, I would have a very hard time justifying the up front costs with the rate of return. Maybe in a few years when prices start to fall on the technology... But I would love to put up some solar panels on my roof...

We have a long way to go and many roads to take to get there... so hopefully we get someone with a real vision to take the charge and run with it.