Nan and the Big Wind Boone-doggle
My syndicated column today looks at Do-Nothing Nancy’s financial interests in pushing T. Boone Pickens’ quixotic Big Wind dreams, as spotlighted here, at #dontgo, and first by Jason Gillman at Michigan Taxes Too Much. More from #dontgo here.
I’ve mentioned Pickens’ backing of Proposition 10 in California. There’s another another eco-boondoggle on the ballot as well. Proposition 7 has been nicknamed the “Big Wind” ballot measure; it would “California utilities to procure half of their power from renewable resources by 2025.”
Related item of snortworthiness: Nancy Pelosi…Washington “outsider.”
***
Pelosi and the Big Win Boone-doggle
by Michelle Malkin
Creators Syndicate
Copyright 2008
Pelosi and the Big Wind Boone-doggle
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called congressional Republicans who want up-or-down drilling votes “hand maidens of the oil companies.” Let’s call Pelosi what she is: House girl of the Big Wind boondogglers.
Though she seemingly backtracked on labeling drilling a “hoax” this week, Pelosi refuses to consider GOP energy proposals that don’t include massive government subsidies for eco-fantastical alternatives that have never panned out.
Which brings us to Madame Speaker’s 2007 financial disclosure form. Schedule III lists “assets and ‘unearned income’” of between $100,001-$250,000 from Clean Energy Fuels Corp. - Public Common Stock.” Clean Energy Fuels Corp. is a natural gas provider founded by T. Boone Pickens. Yep, that T. Boone Pickens– former oilman-turned-wind power evangelist whose ads touting a national wind campaign are now as ubiquitous as Viagra promos.
Pickens and Pelosi now share the same talking points downplaying the need to drill and open up more access to American oil. Instead, the Pickens pie-in-the-sky plan campaign proposes to completely replace natural gas with wind power in power generation and theoretically free up natural gas for America’s transportation needs.
All well and good in la-la land. But let’s be real about the limitations and costs of wind power. Past and ongoing experience has demonstrated the notorious unreliability of wind and the miserably low operating capacity of wind power facilities here and around the world. Depending on wind requires supplemental fossil fuel plants as back up to be turned on and off to compensate for wind power supply shortfalls– nullifying any reductions in carbon dioxide emissions (which are miniscule, according to the National Academy of Sciences).
Not to mention the thousands of sliced-up birds and other wildlife that have become wind power casualties (a problem that scientists say would be solved by “repowering” old turbines at a cost of untold billions).
Fittingly, the environmental mascot of the Democrat National Convention– the showcase of their alternative energy approach — is an eastern Colorado wind turbine propped up with Democrat carbon credit funds that has never produced any energy because of chronic equipment malfunctions.
But I digress.
Naturally, the Pickens Big Wind plan is proudly endorsed by Do-Nothing Pelosi’s friends at the obstructionist Sierra Club. Through another company, Mesa Power, Pickens has committed upwards of $12 billion in wind farms on the Texas panhandle. CEFC and Mesa Power are separate entities. But what benefits one piece of the Pickens puzzle benefits them all. The wind venture, as Pickens himself acknowledges, depends on permanent federal subsidies.
Pickens is banking on ‘em. And Pelosi’s banking on him.
As reported on #dontgomovement.com, Speaker Pelosi bought between $50,000 and $100,000 of stock in Pickens’ CLNE Corp. in May 2007 on the day of the initial public offering:
“She, and other investors, stand to gain a substantial return on their investment if gasoline prices stay high and municipal, state and even the Federal governments start using natural gas as their primary fuel source. If gasoline prices fall? Alternative fuels and the cost to convert fleets over to them becomes less and less attractive.”
CLNE also happens to be the sponsor of Proposition 10, a ballot initiative in Pelosi’s home state of California to dole out a combined $10 billion in state and federal funds for renewable energy incentives. Namely: Natural gas and wind.
Follow the money. Or, to put it in economist terms as energy analyst Kenneth Medlock III did in an interview with the Dallas Morning News about the Pickens multi-billion wind farm investment: “A lot of what he’s trying to do is add value to a stranded asset…he’s obviously got millions of dollars on the line.”
And so, potentially, does the Democrat Speaker of the House windily wagging her finger at the financial motivations of others.
See what others have said
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Trackbacks
- More Pelosi/Pickens/Big Wind Boondoggle | Skeptics Global Warming
- The Saloon dot net
- Obama, “Inflate Tires” Archives and more: « Riggword Weblog
- The American Freedomist » Blog Archive » New Energy Reform Act of 2008 (PONZI SCHEME)
- “We the People” vs. Pelosi — “Insiders” vs. “Outsider” « I Took The Red Pill (and escaped the Matrix)
- Nancy Pelosi – Stand Up Comic
- The Dan Lee Report » Blog Archive » Georgia on my mind..
- In Pelosi’s Own Words « I Took The Red Pill (and escaped the Matrix)
- silent E speaks - Conservatively Speaking from Western Waukesha County » The Pickens-Pelosi Connection
- Congressman Geoff Davis Shakes Things Up In DC | Blue Grass, Red State
- Congressman Geoff Davis Shakes Things Up In DC | Blue Grass, Red State
- Pelosi Lines Her Pockets At Our Expense at The Commissioner’s Corner
- BizzyBlog » Bias-Based Briefs (081308)
- The American Freedomist » Blog Archive » Nancy Pelosi Invests In Energy Scheme and Water Grab By T. Boone Pickens
- In the pocket of “Big Wind” - DodgeBoard.com - Forums
- Nancy Pelosi In Bed With Government-Subsidized Eco-Boondoggle « American Sentinel
- Lugosi - Politics
- Nancy Pelosi at the DNC - strike 2 | American Blog
- No Runny Eggs » Blog Archive » A Midnight Snack
- Mark Levin Fan » Blog Archive » Pelosi profit$ if taxpayers pay for Big Wind
- Plains Feeder
- Hyscience
- Webloggin » Another Blow To Global Warming Scare Mongers: Chicago Has Fewest 90 Degree Days Since 1930
- PAXALLES
- Pelosi’s Unethical Stock Pick-ens « I Took The Red Pill (and escaped the Matrix)
- Michelle Malkin » McCain meets with Big Windy
- They said they would, but no they won’t…. « American Elephants
- Michelle Malkin » Taking stock of Nancy Pelosi
- The Weekly Claw 8-19-08 » VAJoe.com
- Drilling not the only Democrat Problem « The Autopsy
- McCain doesnt support alternative sources?
- Fossil Fuel Free In Ten Years - Page 13 - US Message Board
- Fossil Fuel Free In Ten Years - Page 13 - US Message Board
- Michelle Malkin » Election Day: America votes
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Categories: Enviro-nitwits, Nancy Pelosi
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To withdraw from Iraq, Pelosi used as a rationalization that “it’s the will of the people.” But when she doesn’t agree with “the will of the people,” like she didn’t with drilling, then the people don’t count. If it wasn’t so sad, this would be funny.
May I say hello to all you wonderful people? I’ve been reading you for months and months and some days just wanted to bang my head on my monitor because I could not post a comment.
I am thrilled to now be able to post. I thought I had missed the cut-off for registering, but my email from michellemalkin.com had been held up in my spam filter.
I do not pretend to have the knowledge, research abilities, or photoshop skills that all of you do, but I can guarantee you that I will not be one of the dispicable “troll” posters. I will need time to learn how to do this properly.
I followed a link from here a week or two ago to a website where you could pose questions for Her Eyebrowness, Ms. Pelosi. Not that it did any good, but my question to her was one I’ve not seen anyone ask… if she and her comrades will not allow Americans and American companies drill for oil on the American coast and in ANWR, just exactly WHO is she/they saving our oil for?
I think that everything and anything needs to be done to make the US energy independent. All fronts need to be attacked; oil, coal, wind, hydro-electric and all else. In the 80’s, I think it was, I was appalled when, during our “oil glut,” the government was paying oil companies to close down and fill with cement already drilled and producing oil wells because the price per barrel was too low to make maintaining them economically feasible for the companies. I said then that if the government wanted to do anything, they should have paid the maintenance to keep those wells at the ready for US needs. But, they didn’t ask me.
I’m sorry this is so long. I’ve been waiting a long time to start putting in my 2 cents worth (maybe not always worth 2 cents.) I’m so excited to be here!
On August 13th, 2008 at 11:20 am, concretebob said:
Of course, there’s also this little drawback if the wind gets too much
This happened in Denmark, but I can see it happening anywhere.
Great link! Just wait till you see what the west texas tornados can do!!
Great column, Michelle!
ROFLMAO
Oh! This would be a great photoshop opportunity for Tennyson, Blind_Mule and others. Turn Nan into a superhero to save the world.
I’m not much of a PhotoShop expert but I would recommend taking Captain Planet and superimposing Nan’s face on it.
For even more giggles, put Nan’s face on Captain Planet in this one and some of her enviro-nitwit cohorts - take your pick of which ones - on the Planeteers’ bodies.
Windmills work best when it’s ok if they are intermittent. The original windmills milled grain. Start/stop is OK.
In the old west, they were used to pump water from the ground. Again, intermittency is fine here.
Wind power will never be completely useful when consistency is essential. Even the windiest places are still sometimes. Besides, I bet a good West Texas wind could really do a number on a turbine. (Not to mention what a twister could do.)
How about we use wind power to pump oil out of the ground, or something useful like that.
old-texan
Yes I’ve seen that area. I’ve seen the ANWR coastal planes. ANWR has nothing over Texas. Save Texas first.
OK, while I am writing my post, another poster comes along and writes much of what I was going to say.
On top of that, it was a fellow Texan to boot!
or,
The Big Wind Sock-Puppet.
or,
Big Wind-Sock Puppet
I guess if Ms. Pelosi is screaming that the Republicans are for “big oil” then she should prove that they all have direct interests in personal investments rather than performing like puppets (as in the case of her and TBone “Slim” Pickens. you can practically see Slim’s hand…never mind).
I am sure what will be revealed is that other than a standard 401K and some regular stocks, none of these Congressional officials will have stock purchases during the initial offerings, as in the case of Ms. Pelosi. Why, I would not be surprised if other Democratic Party members also possess similar holdings.
The point I guess that I am making is that the Republicans are doing what they feel is necessary for the whole American population and our future. It seems that Ms. Pelosi’s plan is to make as much money off her investments as a personal gain. Sounds like a conflict of interest to me. It makes sense why she is so vehemently against anything other than the wind thing.
VOTE DEM OUT
Or
wind sock it to me
# 61 martin..
Check this site:
http://ibloga.blogspot.com/
scroll to FCC -
The gvts of EU and mid - East (Canada has the camel’s nose in too) all monitor and control the internet…
We U.S. citizens must be very watchful….
But the liberal Democrat controlled Congress appears ready to “suck” its way deeper into the problem…
Dems remain easy. If they support somthing there is money falling into their pockets from somwhere.
Will voters wake up in time?
Question. How much does it cost to fire up a power plant or to leave it run on idle? Both dollars and carbon?
B-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-but, I thought SFNan was gonna ensure that this would be “the most ethical Congress”????
Is anybody really surprised at these revelations?
Disgusting ………………..
Semper Fi’
DM
WHAT private land? Please specify
If the utilities want to spend the money, it’s their money. If not, don’t.
You don’t think your energy bill is going to go up enough now?
Yes it is, at the same efficiency that gas turbines always generate - which is lousy. The whole crux of this argument is that wind turbines are more efficient (”lower cost”) than gas turbines, and that natural gas should be used for things that it is more efficient at - like heating houses, boiling water, or powering automobiles.
I can type slower, if you’d like, but this seems pretty straightforward to me.
Yes. Yes they are. And that’s why they should only be used to fill in the gaps when the wind dies down and the wind turbines can’t generate power. As you say in your previous exclamation-laden point, we’re using them now all the time - and that’s dumb, because, as you say here, they are inefficient.
That’s what negotiations are for, and that’s what I’m saying. If Pickens wants usage rights for the land, I say we give it to him - but we don’t subsidize a penny. And we don’t give him water or mineral rights.
To the degree that forfeiting funds is “subsidizing,” this is where I DO say we “subsidize.” Wind power isn’t new. As I say, Denmark uses it all the time. But that’s not to say it’s mature, like oil is. Pickens will be taking risks well beyond what oil companies take when they explore. I say we give him 50 years usage rights for free - it’s not as if the land is being used for anything else right now, or is generating any other cash for us.
And, btw, if we want to sell the water or mineral rights to the land, it’s not as if we’d preclude that by giving Pickens the wind-rights.
I do believe that Pickens is using his wind-turbine schpiel to get more than just wind rights. I believe he wants to transport water and/or drill for oil (etc.). That’s where I draw the line.
He’s the guy who’s all over TV saying “this is about wind power,” so I say we ask him to name that tune. If that’s what it’s about, you can do it.
If you were lying… well then, perhaps you can explain that to the whole world, T. Boone?
If Pickens’ turbines CAN deliver cheap power - even if it’s only 5% of what we need - why wouldn’t we do it?
It’s the same as “drill. drill now.”
I don’t see cash coming out of my pocket on this one.
So much for that…
concretebob, what a hoot! send that to san fran nan and ask her to put that into her alternative energy equation when those same plains tboone is proposing to use aren’t known as hurricane alley for nothing. it’s amazing how a snake oil salesman can bamboozle these pipedream liberals into PAYING THEM to not produce energy while they won’t allow him to drill for oil which has been his life’s work. what an entrepaneur!
Boone Pickens is just as much a prospector of the US Tax Code as he is a finder of oil.
But he is like all “capitalists”. As soon as he gets a bit ahead he “bribes” politicians to help him keep and build his stash.
I don’t understand Sierra Club’s support for wind turbines. Has anyone ever seen a field with wind turbines? I have, its butt-ugly. Studies show that bird-turbine impact can be as high as 7 birds per turbine per year. That translates to between 10,000 to 40,000 birds may be killed each year. Where’s the outrage? The Sierra Club and their envoronmental crazies seem like hypocrits, huh? I mean, aren’t these the same nuts that chain themselves to trees to keep forresters from cutting down the habitat of the spotted owl?
http://www.abcbirds.org/conservationissues/threats/energyproduction/wind.html
The ends always justify means. If you can line your own pocket along the way, all the better.
Fusion.
Crack the limitless supply of water into hydrogen and water.
Use the hydrogen like gasoline in vehicles and for heating.
Problem solved.
Of course, there are problems with distribution and long term/portable storage of hydrogen, but those can actually be overcome without much more than monetary investments. Most internal combustion engines can operate on hydrogen with modifications to the fuel delivery system.
The fusion process broke the break even point in the UK in the ’90s, but it is generally believed that the full promise of this power source is several decades, maybe 50 years, off.
In the meantime, we need all the oil, coal, gas, solar, nuclear, wind, etc., power to cover the gap.
Wind/solar are part of the equation but nuclear is by far the best source of energy we have on planet earth. I love McCains nuke plan. We need to stop being cry babies about nuclear power and use it. You can put the “waste” in my back yard. That’s fine with me.
Of course the Sierra Club are hypocrites. Just review their stance on illegal immigration:
Dear Mr.,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this issue.
The Sierra Club’s membership voted on April 25, 1998 to remain committed to environmental rights and protection for all within our borders, without discrimination based on immigration status. With this vote, our members have shown they understand that restricting immigration into the U.S. will not solve the planet’s environmental problems. There is broad agreement within the Sierra Club to address the global environmental dilemmas exacerbated by population growth by supporting voluntary family planning programs and access to basic rights for women and girls around the world.
For more information, please visit this link: http://www.sierraclub.org/population/faq.asp
Sincerely,
Ann Pinkerton
Sierra Club Member Services
85 Second St, 2nd Fl
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 977-5653 (M-F, 9-5 PST)
http://www.sierraclub.org
Another excellent article with a lot of good comments. In El Paso, Tx. the local power company charges about 50 percent more for wind power electricity. This source is more expensive at present, and forces other sources (atomic, thermal) to stay on line at reduced capacity to provide the energy lost if wind power decreases suddenly. Most generation sources provide maximum efficiency at full load only.
The second concern is economic–all sources should be the most cost efficient without subsidies or government financing–the free market should determine what sources we use–consistent with meeting reasonable non-pollution requirements.
Many people don’t realize how serious what Russia has done in Georgia really is. The are trying to close the noose on energy alternatives for America & her allies.
You can run an M1 Abrams tank on T.B. Picken’s windmills.. Like Mojave Mark said, we’ve been bowing to the lefty’s “anti-everything” crowd for so long,our abilities to power military equipment with alternative/nuclear energies are limited.
If you add that all up, we have a National security crisis on our hands.
It’s not just about gas prices anymore. The Russians & their Iranian groupies have bigger plans.
~Dan Lee
I posted the Sierra Club’s immigration position to point out their hypocrisy on energy and immigration. On one hand they whine that we use too much energy and they want to reduce our energy consumption to what it was a decade ago. On the other hand they remain silent about the biggest driver of our energy demand growth, immigration. How many coal fired power plants do 20 million illegals require? How much gasoline do they consume?
This is an issue the SC et all are afraid to discuss lest they be called “racists”.
While I definitely favor the idea of using wind energy, it’s disturbing to see Comrade Pelosky having a hand in it. She’ll screw it up somehow.
The U.S. uses 20% for the world resources. Add more illegals add more environmental damage. Good point DerKrieger
Dimsdale,
It takes more energy to crack water into hydrogen and oxygen than you get back in a fuel cell.
If you say use the hydrogen for fusion, then theoretically you will get more energy out than you put in - but that’s all still theory.
I’m guessing that at some point fusion will be safe and viable, but they’ve been chasing that one for decades - it’s clearly not happening any time soon.
There’s also the thorny problem of what to do with all of the free oxygen and helium we’ll be generating, but that’s a different problem.
Cracking water via geothermal power makes sense. It still takes more power to crack the water than you get back via fuel cells (or just consuming it in an internal combustion engine), but the geothermal power is low-cost so you don’t care.
You can make a strong case that Hawaii and Iceland could become major hydrogen generating zones, but I’m pretty sure that the people of Hawaii will have a thing or two to say about that.
It won’t be pretty, and the occassional industrial accident doesn’t really fit into the whole theme of “tropical paradise.”
But it’s do-able, for sure. Even if Hawaii only generated enough hydrogen (via geothermal) to power itself, that would make a difference…
Signed,
Spiny Norman
You need helium 3 for the fusion reactor to work. The only place helium 3 can be found in large enough concentrations is on the moon.
Who gives a rats ass what Pelosi’s motives are? Every member of congress (from both sides of the aisle) are taking money from some energy interest and they all stand to benefit in some fashion by backing one horse or another. The fundamental question is - will it be in the national interest to create more energy sources? The answer is clearly yes.
DRILL NOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
DerKrieger
I have it. More abortion
pelosi, big wind and the sierra club all have one thing in common. they all blow.
Lets move to China. Only 1 child per family. Less pollution.
We have a bunch of this going on in the Columbia River Gorge area. I don’t think they work like they are supposed to work, and we have some of the strongest wind in the country (world renowned for windsurfing, even).
The Pelosi Wind Farm is now being tested in Area 51. This smuggled shot came at great peril to her tin hat brigade.
Hydrogen. Nan, please write up the 10 billion dollar government grant for me, and I’ll give you a share…
I posted hydrogen above before I saw your post.
Interesting. Then why is it their contention that the globe’s “global warming” problem will be cured by our unilateral refusal to drill for our own oil (while asking other countries to drill more)?
If they really were true to their concerns for the entire planet, they would be in Beijing right now, protesting the smog and pollution that China generates.
Off the subject - Shots have been fired at the Arkansas Democrat Headquarters.
(Lots of jokes coming to mind, but I’ll hold off for now.)
LOL! Glad someone else is up on their Python! Oddly enough, Spinynorman is my user name on some other sites.
Anyway, I get your point, and I acknowledged that usable fusion power is at least 50 years off.
As for hydrogen, using fuel cells to generate electricity for automotive electric motors is not the only alternative. You can burn hydrogen just like propane or any other gaseous fuel in an internal combustion engine, pretty much just as gasoline. The problem is storage. It doesn’t just sit in a tank like gasoline or LPG. As the smallest element, it basically can leak through most materials. Compressed gas is the easiest way, but the leakage problem is the biggest hurdle. Liquification is out, as it takes too low a temp. One promising technology is the use of metal hydrides, which basically soak up hydrogen and release it when heated (hot exhaust gas).
When burned, the hydrogen recombines with the oxygen to remake water (and some nitrous oxides, but those are easily dealt with), so excess oxygen is not an issue. As for helium produced by the fusion process, there are plenty of lighter than air uses, and it is complelely nonreactive, so release into the atmosphere is not problematic.
I am just saying that if more money was thrown into fusion research, the time to results might be shortened.
I don’t see why we can’t put tiny windmills on top of our cars. They would then power themselves!
On a serious note, I have heard that the problem with hydrogen is that it takes a lot of energy to create the hydrogen. It’s not something you can just pull from the ground.
If you want to make it from water then, yes, it takes a lot more power to crack it than you can get back no matter how you use it (fuel cell, internal or external combustion engine, etc.)
As said here, there are some places on earth where very cheap power and water co-exist. Like Iceland. All that geothermal power, and no easy way to transport it… hydrogen is potentially a good idea for them.
You can easily make hydrogen directly from fossil fuels, btw, but that makes almost zero sense. A lot of articles talk about doing just that and “sequestering the CO2″ at the bottom of the sea or buried in the earth.
What could possibly go wrong?
Follow the $$$$$
You’ll find the corruption!!!
Nancy P. invested 100,000+ $$$ to B.Picken’s scheme while it was in its early stages…..
Drill for oil in the U.S.>>>>Nancy’s investment goes sour.
Aren’t we glad she’s looking out for us-the little people!
Let’s just do both and strangle the Saudi funding of the slow decay of Europe, shall we? Because that is what OPEC is doing. Can the USA really afford to have an enemy on that continent? I think not.
I own CLNE stock, wow, I don’t want to sell but I hate to think her and I might be rooting for the same cause.
This is a conundrum for me.
Has Michele or anyone here actually listened to Pickens or gone to his website? He never said wind power will satisfy all our energy needs. He reiterates over and over again that we need all forms of alternative energies to be used. His emphisis is on getting away from foreign dependence for our energy.
I don’t care who makes money or how much if they can get us out from under the madness of oil exporting countries.
I’m sick of the phrase “Follow the money” when it comes to renewable energy ideas. Either the technology works or it doesn’t. There are too many ignorant people out there thinking they know some dark secret behind every good idea.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with using wind power for electricity. The arguements I’ve read against it here just don’t make sense - wiping out flocks of birds? First of all, that doesn’t happen. Secondly, Tornados in the midwest kill hundreds of thousands of birds each year without our help and their populations survive just fine.
The absolutely moronic arguement that this is not a viable technology because it will require a lot of wires being laid across the country thus ruining the land proves to me that this country is teaming with mindless individuals. thank God none of you were here to stop the Insterstate Highway projects.
Unfortunately ignorant people have the right to vote like everyone else. And that’s why we have the type of leadership that we have.
escond…..
I agree that Mr. Pickens has more to say than just wind power however in all of his commercials he focuses on one thing. He is a salesman after all. What do you expect? IF he was presenting a balanced approach, drill-alternatives-nuclear-wind-etc., ok, fine. Give him a little mroe air time and hear all of what he is saying. But that is NOT what he is doing. His commercials are pushing wind, wind, wind. Its his own fault for having folks not bother to hear all of what he has to say. And his framing of a transfer of wealth is also incorrect. We are buying oil not just giving away money. He is what he is. Do not believe everything Mr. Pickens has to say.
You are right about the leadership we have…which also includes our single digit approval rating Congress. Grats bro.
To answer your post directly, I personally dont have a problem with wind power as an alternative. But address the problem it creates. pickens’ project will generate electricity for a little over 100,000 homes, correct? but look at the resource and the effort required. thats alot of infrastructure, alot of investment, for something that takes up alot of space and doesnt even make a dent into the energy needs of our country.
realistically, another question would be “what do we do when the wind stops blowing?” Perhaps they have that question answered, but i’ve seen little information on that part.
You are also correct about getting from under foreign oil. You would accomplish more by lobbying that we stop sending 33% of our supply overseas, than going with the wind (as it were).
my 2 cents.
My understanding is Pickens is not as down on oil as many here seem to think he is. From what I gather he is all for drilling for more oil. However, we are having to reach higher into the oil tree to get oil. Even if you are one of those who buys into the non-fossil based theories of oil creation sooner or later it will be gone.
Wind is not a magic cure. Secondly, with enough towers spread out over a wide geographic region we will be able to depend on a certain and reliable minimum of power coming out if we can figure out a practical way to store it then we can delay going to peak plants even more. Third, someone noted wind turbines only pay for small applications. Count me skeptical maintenance costs would seem to be prohibitive for small scale applications of wind power. There is a reason wind turbines are getting bigger & bigger.
My big concern is diverting natural gas from its normal uses to transportation, that would drive up my winter home heating costs quite a bit.
I don’t have a problem with Pickens making more money and promoting his businessess that is called free enterprise. I do have a problem with Pelousy, and any other politician, having stock in a company that is promoting legislation on one hand and voting against expanding oil drilling on the other. This is a comflict of interest and unethical.
Anybody know of ANY politician who came home in the same tax bracket they were in before they went to DC??
Hellllooo Nan, what happened to “transparency”???
…and I also have a problem with government subsidies of free enterprise–which IS what Pickens is promoting…
# 148 Fire B-
You bought CLINE in good faith–you have no power-politically - to alter its value one way or the other—-
Nancy P does!!….
All of those who have read my posts this last year —know that I am a Patriot who believes in free enterprise and making an honest $.
Sounds like Neil Cavuto is going to cover Nan’s recent stock purchase……
Gee, do you think the former big 3 networks will do the same?
Ah, should have known…….Michelle is on Cavuto right now!
# 149 -I will answer your critic once…
Wind power is slow to develope and UGLY
(that’s why T Kennedy and his cronies don’t want it near them!)
anyone who has driven by our CA “wind farms” (on the way to Palm Springs) KNOWS they are ugly and inefficient!
Drilling for oil off of our coasts (like Cuba and China do) is quick and efficient! Inland — the same!
Get our ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS in on it and they’ll bring it in WELL under the 10 (awful) years that the libs say is tooooo long…
Remember the Panama Canal –anyone!???
# 149 name calling (”moronic” and “ignorant” shows a person who has lost the argument!)
Yes, Michelle Malkin is on Cavuto now cooking both Pelosi and T. Bone for this nonsense. I wish she would let us know ahead of time.
Go girl.
Great job Michelle … any Fox viewers that had not yet seen your column today just got a great highlighted version on Cavuto …
The look on Cavuto’s face was priceless as you made your points … Obviously he knew what your points were going to be on Nan’s investment in Clean Energy stock … but he seemed a bit surprised I think about the CA propositions and the public money that would go into T. Boone’s pocket and then benefit San Fran Nan …
You Rock … just wish you were on Fox more than just daytime … I am not usually able to watch through the day but was able to catch the broadcast this time around …
I don’t believe T. Boone is advocating not drilling for oil … I simply believe is under the impression that wind can generate more electricity than the technology has shown itself capable of doing …
The problem here is Nan preventing the lifting of the OCS drilling ban in what appears to be a conflict of interest in order to line her own pockets with more cash …
The fact she invested in CLNE well over a year ago is not the problem … she is an enviro-nut and so that falls right in line with that belief … but she should not be imposing her own agenda in this matter on the rest of the country …
You are both DEAD WRONG. 1)Gas does not turn a turbine, steam does.
2) you DO NOT turn it on like a light swithch. The gas is used to heat water from a ambient tempurate to high pressure steam which is then used to turn the turbines. We are talking about thousands of gallons of water, depending on plant and turbine size. This makes it very expensive in both dollars and carbon.
You can saw wind is more efficient when you have wind, the problem is when you do not have wind. Power plants of any type are both time consuming and expensive to start so they must be left running at idle. Also a power plants greatest efficency is when running at continuous full capicity.
He will make millions on wind and so will polosie.
I found Malkin’s column to be cynical, shrill and poorly researched. Good stuff RobM and escondidoguy.
allrsn …
Pickens will continue to make millions on oil as well and that was my point … he will be making money both ways … I have no basic problem with that … just don’t think Pelosi should be going out of the way to promote one energy source over another when none of the current “developing technologies” has yet been proven to be a viable replacement … with the exception of Nuclear for electricity …
None of these “alternatives” does a thing about replacing gasoline to run vehicles … ethanol and bio is not a workable solution for several reasons … the food cost impact worldwide, the lower fuel economy (mpg), the cost per gallon is more than gasoline, and it causes a variety of types of wear and tear on engine parts not caused by gasoline products making your bottom line cost more than now … and that is just for starters …
“Do nothing Congress”, which one? This one or the one before it, or the one before that?
1. If Nancy Pelosi is the answer, what was the question? Are we all helpless morons?
2. We must first break our addiction to Congress to solve our problems. Try putting your money where your mouth is you “free market” fanatics. Investing in hybrid vehicles, alternative and safe energy sources will bring about change faster than hanging around waiting for Congressional theatrics to accomplish anything.
3. We have an energy security problem. We must break away from OPEC and more drilling is a ridiculously narrow minded approach.
FYIs Mark Levin, is reporting on this now… 7:10 PM… he is crediting & directly quoting this site…
I think it’s high time for impeachment proceedings. Even Stretchface is not above the law.
# 100 C Bob– L-O-L
Just a test folks! My log in is working now. Thanks all
Desert Lover #161 Actually the point IS that Pelousy has stock in a company she can directly effect by promoting or withholding legislation as well as earmarking public funds which will be going right back into her pocket. Is this not a “windfall” and should she not pay an additional tax?
She is not alone by a long shot. It is real hard to find ANY sitting politician who does not do the same thing–that is the problem and should not be allowed by law. I want to see that one passed overwhelmingly!! (cold day in he!!)
Also, oil is used in so many products besides gasoline that it is not feasible to think we could find a viable substitute for everything. Besides, latest scientific theory is that oil replenishes and is not a “fossil” fuel but is a biotic product the earth burps all the time. If true, Imagine what a sticky mess we would be in if we didn’t use it??
And, your research to the contrary is…? …….
By Choice
I believe that I further expressed that in #164 …
FYI … in several past threads I have pointed out many things that oil derivatives are used in ranging from styrofoam to cosmetics to anti-perspirant to the tires that Obama wants us to inflate …
Just a test folks, thanks to See Dubya for helping me to log on for the first time.
Fact:
My wife is from West Texas, smack in the middle of where these windmills are being built.
Fact: Her retired farming father LOVES leasing his land out to windmills. Farmers can make more money from leasing it out than from farming it
Fact: A foreign student from Japan once INSISTED on the way through west texas on getting out of the car and filming for 360 degrees. His reason “I have never seen so much nothing in my life. I have to show my family back home.”
Fact: If the land isn’t farmed nothing but weeds grow on it. NASTY weeds that cut your hands. There are very few trees. The wildlife mostly consist of groundhogs, coyotes, and pests.
Fact: My wife likes to say “We dont’ worry about the environment in West Texas, there is none there.
Fact: Uranium naturally occurs in the soil and if you grew up drinking the well water you probably will test positive for uranium.
I can understand the anger at the conflict of interest. I can understand anger at the subsidies. Eminant domain in this situation is questionable as to whether it should be done.
Anyone who has a problem with what it will do to the “environment” out there has never been there or certainly never lived there. The windmills would actually PROVIDE some scenery and environment.
Barry F, lame post. If she’s going to write a column on energy policy, she needs to do better than that. She writes to the narrative she’s stuck on, rather than let the facts lead to logical conclusions. I know you’re a big fan and all, but really, it’s okay to go off the reservation every once and a while and offer up a differing take on things.
Again, your research to the contrary is…? You know, those “facts” you note for the “logical conclusions?”
Well, come on, dakine. Help her out, if the “research” is lacking. This is your chance to shine.
dakine,
I agree. Sometimes the commentary does get shrill. Nothing wrong with drilling as well using the wind but Nancy should either divest of the stock or recuse herself on any legislation related to her holdings.
Generally speaking not too many people have spent three months touring and studying the power scheme of an entire country like I have.
I can tell you outright Pickens is trying to sell you a Honda when he should be selling you a Caterpillar; you know, something that’s going to get the job done.
I don’t doubt Boone’s patriotism is in the right place, but there no way the politics he’s up against are going to mix with a real, comphrehensive energy plan that’s going to break the concatenation with foreign oil.
Wind farms are amazing though; one guy can control hundreds of windmills out of a little shack.
Save the sarcasm Barry. Malkin is paid for her commentary/reporting. I’m simply a blog consumer. She’s a talented writer, but not above criticism, and if I find a particular piece to be lacking, I’ll say so. You want to eat up everything she has to say without question, that’s your choice.
Vince, agreed regarding Pelosi.
I hear Chicago is pretty windy. . .
Alright, wind, solar, fission, and fusion have been covered. How ’bout human power? People can turn generators too. Let’s make prisoners do it. Every prison could be powerplant. We’re already paying for their meals anyway, let’s put them to good use.
(This is meant to be a jocose suggestion.)
I’ll bite GK and take you at your word. Expand on the “Pickens Plan” and lay out the “Goldwater Knight Plan” if you don’t mind (and I’m being sincere at the risk of getting my cyber teeth knocked out).
Good job Michelle. Another great expose of hypocrisy and greed. Plus, now we can more accurately and justifiably call Pelosi an Old Windbag.
I do agree with Michelle, most of the time. Otherwise, I wouldn’t frequent her site, wait to register those many months ago and post here. But, in isolated instances, I have held a different view on things. Again, those are limited instances.
But, the problem is, you just throw out generalizations insinuating that her research is lacking in this column. However, you have failed to produce anything to the contrary. If you can’t produce anything, just say so. Otherwise, if it is so lacking, put it out there.
I can’t thank Michelle enough for using her column to get the word out on this significant conflict of interest. It appears Comrade Peloski should be doing some talking with members of the DOJ for using her position to stifle debate, prevent a vote, and artificially inflate the price of fuel to make the snake-oil scheme of wind power seem like a real affordable alternative solution while filling her pockets at the expense of the taxpayer.
West Texas is not by any means the only place that would be adversely impacted however. I lived in the desert of Northern Nevada where we consistently have winds over 100 miles an hour. Tractor trailers regularly blow over when they are not re-routed and out as far in the desert as I live, the wind picks up trailers and other objects. A passing motorist traveling down the dirt road that leads to my goat path of a drive way would probably see no wildlife and no reason not to use the land.
When I walk through or even drive, I see the coyotes, the foxes, the eagles, the antelope, the wild mustangs and burros and many other creatures … including a burrowing owl on a few occasions. I live about five miles away from town which is a ghost town. I live about twenty-five miles away from a real town in Nevada and about 15 miles travel to the closest town in California. Would you ask me to “trust” the government to decide what is best for me and for my land that my father and I spent twenty years building up so that you could power a few more homes in Reno? I would rather see them building a nuke reactor out in the middle of the desert. At least that would bring in people and jobs and not be nearly as unsightly or as detrimental to the local wildlife and those few of us who do live so far off the grid.
Let’s not forget the vast amounts of geothermal (renewable) energy that is already being used in Nevada to generate power … much of which is sold to California at a loss and regularly subsidized by increased power bills for We the People.
I don’t think we should be surprised Generalismo Pelosi pushes “wind” as
the solution for motorists facing rising prices at the gas pump. Wind is
something Madame Nanny knows much about and the only useful product she produces.
Hey —thanks Nevada !
# 187 WT
So, let me get this straight. These unnamed, all-powerful Washington Insiders didn’t want Pelosi to become Speaker of the House. But she became Speaker anyway with the help of a lowly group of fellow Outsiders.
Wouldn’t that mean that Nancy’s Outsiders were actually more powerful than the Insiders? And wouldn’t that mean that her Outsiders were the real Insiders because it’s always the Insiders who yield the most power in Washington? Pelosi’s doublespeak makes my head spin.
I’m coming into this thread kind of late, but I just wanted to commend Michelle for her excellent, well-informed (as usual) appearance on Neil Cavuto yesterday. Keep up the great work!
Health problems realted to wind farms? Uh oh. Better see if Nan is ok with it.
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1218250522129010.xml&coll=7&thispage=1
I’m T. Boone Pickins, and I’m hedging my bets.
Anyone know the price Nan got in at? I’ve read $14.30 (not far from current price) and $3.50 (cue “We’re in the Money” music).
we need to put nancys pic on all the gas pumps so everyone can see who is screwing us.plus when i was over there we see on tv folks were yelling the war is for oil most i knew said WHY NOT
ok MM start a drive to get her pic on all the pumps we all have printers and tape (-;
On August 13th, 2008 at 12:20 pm, FamilyMan said (#130):
Helium-3 isn’t the only fuel that will work, but it is the best in terms of radioactive end-products. The beauty of getting it from the Moon is that it’s replenished by the solar wind. Soooo…IT’S RENEWABLE!!!