Pickens' Plan

natural gas powered cars

I was a student in TOKYO in early 90s. All taxi in Tokyo were run

on natural gas then. All taxi in Hong Kong are now run on natural gas too. "The technology just isn't there" ?

Vincent Tsang @ Dec 23, 2008 09:25:59 AM

Pickens Plan

I find several points of merit in the Pickens Plan. One of my neighbors converted his 1965 Chevrolet pick-up to run on propane aprox. 30 years ago. The conversion kit was very affordable then (that probably won't be the case in this day and age). I have also operated forklifts powered by propane. Both seem to work great, and even have the benefit of less carbon build up in the combustion chambers because it IS a cleaner burning fuel. One problem I do have with CNG for auto fuel on a large scale, is knowing that one source of the nat. gas, is the Fayetteville Shale field beneath my feet right now. Having grown up here, and watching our underground water table drop drastically after the first round of nat. gas drilling/extraction, I don't believe the water table can stand another, larger round of drilling/extraction. There has been a fortune invested in Arkansas to install infrastructure to provide rural areas with piped-in, treated water during the last decade or two. These projects could not have been done for the profits from water sales, as installing buried pipeline through 30 miles of Arkansas rock to install 150 residential meters just doesn't add up. Before I had full faith in my government, I thought this infrastructure could be used to keep citizens in line if ever need be, as 3 or4 days without water will bring poeple to their knees (how silly of me)! Now I see that it was only in preparation for the potential destruction of the water table/poeple's wells. Could these problems have any influence on Mr. Pickens purchases of massive amounts of water rights? A blind man might say no, while the one-eyed man says maybe, yet one with both eyes open might say, damn right it could.

Daniel Robinson of AR @ Oct 16, 2008 21:23:57 PM

bio diesel

why not use cleaner burning diesel like European countries have embraced? Ford has a 65 mpg vehicle that isn't being released domestically due to lack of demand for cleaner diesel. Who wouldn't want to maximize their mpg's? Bio diesel isn't a total solution but it certainly could help provide jobs in the US and reduce dependence on foreign fuels. Couple bio diesel with wind, solar, hydro and geothermal energy and we've got a plan for oil independence. Almost all of which would have to be centered in the private sector. With a touch of tax breaks for investment into these fields the US could easily find themselves exporting energy technology to the rest of the world.

Imagine.

AM of FL @ Oct 07, 2008 23:08:30 PM

HYDROGEN

I READ ABOUT A MAN NAMED STANLEY MAYERS WHO INVENTED A HYDROGEN ENGINE THAT RUNS ON WATER. IT IS WORTH READING FOR ANYONE INTERESTED JUST GOOGLE HIS NAME.

CONNIE of NJ @ Sep 30, 2008 14:02:53 PM

cng vehicles

It is my understanding that a cng converted vehicle will run on

either gasoline, diesel or cng. It wouldbe great if the government give grants to people to convert their vehicles and to purchase home refuling units. Than it would not be necessary to replace all refuling ststions so quickly. I feel that cng is a viable fuel for the bridge to the future.

Thanks Ben Leehans

ben leehans of LA @ Sep 27, 2008 00:24:12 AM

Why are we always so single minded?

How would Pickens Plan exclude other efforts to free us from our oil dependency?

As electric cars and hybrids became cheaper and more available the free market would dictate they replace more expensive gas and natgas vehicles.

In the meantime, a viable wind generation infrastructure would be built that would serve us for many years to come. Helping to reduce greenhouse gases.

Also, there are about 50,000 propane dealers nation wide. I'm sure they would jump at the idea of a bigger customer pool!

I just don't understand those who want to do nothing and say they are making progress!

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem!

ricardo Castano Jr of MI @ Sep 11, 2008 21:20:29 PM

natural gas

If we have so much natural gas, why not give an incentive to those who would like to convert their vehicles to natural gas by giving them a stmulous check to be used only for the purpose of converting their vehicles. Then give the service stations a stymulous check to install a natural gas pump.

that would bring down gas prices in a hurry. However, that is not a long term remedy. We need to drill, drill, drill

We must get away from depending on Foreign oil..

Lois Heinis of SD @ Sep 10, 2008 22:08:53 PM

Adapting to Changing Energy Resources

Like any new technology, changes in our energy supply will be a result of changes in the consumer market. The number one influence will be consumers driving the change through demand. When this socio-economic change happens industry and government will be forced to change as well. There is nothing more powerful than a free market. It's evident that non-fossil fuel technology is in it's beginning stages, but look at the rapid changes in communication and information technology over the past 10 to 20 years. In colloege I learned every product has a life cycle; so let the market and natural supply help change our dependency on oil production and refining to a cleaner and never ending supply of natural resource like; wind, solar, hydro and natural gas. Let's send Washington the message that protecting the old dinosaur lobbyist for the oil companies they cannot continue as the dependent energy source. Let's embrace the effect of soaring petroliums to shift energy consumption to renewable and natural products.

Considering the precarious shape of US Auto manufactures, they should wake and smell the coffee. The solution is freedom to invest, provide popular and convenient options for consumers and force government to "change" the way they do business through legistlation (a real energy policy) and tax reform to reward businesses and consumer to invest in energy production changes.

Imagine the effect on foreign relations when the economic hold over Western civilization is eleviated. The US will have stronger negotiating power and we will lead the world in new technology. If we do not change China will and we again be even more dependent on foriegn countries. It will also lead to gereater peace in the world.

Our current economic climate is starving for new energy innovation and future generations are affected by action and the lack of action to solve energy crisis.

Michele Stuart of CT @ Sep 10, 2008 01:20:00 AM