Delaware: First State for Energy Independence

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Comment by Michael Gallagher on September 26, 2009 at 8:29am

The Pickens Plan has created a way to submit a letter to a member of Congress or newspapers online. You can access it here:
http://www.capwiz.com/pickensplan/issues/alert/?alertid=14067696&type=ME

If you use this method, please personalize your text- remember- form letters don't generate much impact, and the best way to contact them is to send a letter yourself or via their Web sites or to call (Congress). However, if you can't or don't want to do that, please visit this site and submit at least 1 letter. Perhaps many of such letters (from different people) will get them to focus on the Plan.

Comment by Michael Gallagher on August 23, 2009 at 11:53am

I contacted our US Senators & member of the US House of Representatives regarding the NAT GAS Act. Here's my experience. I encourage you to register your support, although personally I'm concerned about where the funding will come from after all the spending in the past few big chunks (both current & immediate past Presidential administrations). However, it seems that the NAT GAS Act funding would be small compared to them. It is, of course, dependent on political factors and time and related other factors.

As Ed (Region Leader) explained to me, if we keep up the drip on energy reform, once health care is done (or mostly so- people still wage political battles about issues after they're decided), energy and the environment is next on the list so that drip would especially catapult the NAT GAS Act back up!

I called Carper's Wilmington office and was told that they will get back to me on his position (thanks to Mike Johnston of PA for suggesting that I ask a question rather than just state an opinion).

I called Kaufman's office (yes, the "Kauf" is pronounced like the English word "cough"- I had thought otherwise due to a professor I had with the same surname pronouncing it differently at least sometimes- or others referring to him pronouncing it differently). I passed my opinion along in support of the NAT GAS Act but the staffer said they usually don't know his position until he votes on something.

When I called Castle's office, I spoke with Tyler. Tyler said that the bill hasn't come to a committee Castle's on or to the floor so Tyler was unsure if Mr. Castle had a position on it. Tyler indicated that it is now in the Science & Technology Committee (I think that's a good place it needs to be considered). I registered my position in support of it.

Comment by Michael Gallagher on August 9, 2009 at 5:43pm

Please visit

http://cleanenergysummit.org/ tomorrow August 10, 2009 between 10AM & 4PM to view the second National Clean Energy Summit installment at the University of Nevada- Las Vegas.

This installment is aimed at more progress and located in Nevada because of its base of renewable energy resources.

Comment by Michael Gallagher on July 12, 2009 at 5:56pm

District Co-Leader & State Director here.

With the first anniversary of the Pickens Plan 4 days ago, there is an opportunity to renew our efforts. I need help writing letters to editors in local newspapers and contacting legislators. I need someone in every jurisdiction to help. Please let me know if you can help and what you do/can do. arbregen at gmail dot com.

Comment by Michael Gallagher on July 8, 2009 at 9:37am

Pickens Plan Talking Points- I received this from Ed (below) as I'm the state director for Delaware and he suggested posting pieces of it on state district groups. There are multiple Delaware groups, so I'm posting it on all of them.
- Today, July 8th, is Energy Independence Day – The One-Year Anniversary of the Pickens Plan.
- T. Boone Pickens launched the Pickens Plan on July 8, 2008 with a goal of having 1 million supporters by Inauguration Day. When President Obama was sworn in, we had just over 1.4 million.
- The goal of the Pickens Plan is to make us safer here at home and create millions of high paying new jobs by ending our country’s dependence on foreign oil.
- The Pickens Plan wants to generate 20% of our nation’s electricity needs through wind power, and divert the excess natural gas to the transportation grid.
- In 2008, the United States sent close to $500 billion overseas on foreign oil. With the money we will send overseas on foreign oil in 2009, the United States could build 32,470 brand new high tech elementary schools.
- The United States imports nearly 70% of our oil from overseas. Over 50% of our imports come from places like Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Nigeria, etc. Places that don’t like us very much.
- The Pickens Plan is a bi-partisan effort, focused solely on ending America’s dependence on foreign oil. Mr. Pickens has always said that “We are doing this for America. Energy Independence is above partisan politics.” And that’s why Republicans, Democrats and Independents alike have signed onto the Pickens Plan.
- Currently, the Pickens Plan has just over 1.6 million supporters across the nation, in all 435 Congressional Districts.
- The Pickens Plan is working on a big legislative push right now. HR 1835, “The natural Gas Act of 2009” is working its way through Congress. Currently, HR 1835 has over 70 bi-partisan Co-Sponsors in the House, from all across the country. For the first time, HR 1835 gives the right incentives for Natural Gas to become a viable transportation fuel alternative to foreign oil.
- The Senate version of HR 1835 is being introduced today by Senator Menendez (D-NJ) and Senator hatch (R-Utah). Mr. Pickens is in Washington for the announcement. (Everyone should call their elected officials to make sure they support this legislation that will get us on our own resources, and off of foreign oil).
- A lot of people say that the US doesn’t have enough natural gas to get the job done. The Potential Gas Agency came out with a study last week, that says there is enough natural gas in the United States for every man, women and child to drive a car for the next 120 years. Moreover, proven natural gas reserves are actually 1/3 higher than previously thought.
- The United States has over 2 thousand-trillion cubic feet of natural gas. In barrels of oil, that’s equivalent to 350 billion. The Saudis only claim to have 250 billion. The Pickens Plan is out to convince the American people, and Congress, that we can solve our dependency by using our own cleaner, cheaper, abundant natural resource – natural gas.
- Natural gas burns 23% cleaner than gasoline and 60% than diesel fuel – and it’s ¼ the cost of foreign oil.
- If one diesel powered 18 wheeler is taken off the road and replaced with a natural gas rig, it’s the environmental equivalent of taking 325 cars off the road.
- There are over 6.5 million 18 wheelers on the road in the United States, if we converted just 350,000 to natural gas, it would lower our dependence on foreign oil – overnight – by 5.14%.
- There are only two things that will move an 18 wheeler, foreign oil (diesel fuel and gasoline) and clean, cheap, domestic natural gas.
- Remind them to visit www.pickensplan.com to learn more and check out our latest campaign videos.

Comment by Ed Matricardi on December 5, 2008 at 2:07pm

As we approach the new year (and get ready for the new WH Administration & Congress), we are shifting gears to begin recruiting Pickens Plan District Leaders in every congressional district to help with activities in the coming months.

Please let me know if you are interested in serving as a District Leader in your area and I will get you additional information.

Thanks.

Comment by Ed Matricardi on November 22, 2008 at 8:43am

Just 1 DE Mayor Has Signed Pickens Pledge for Energy Independence

To date, 168 Mayors across the nation have signed the Pickens Pledge, joining T. Boone Pickens’ national campaign to reduce foreign oil imports by utilizing abundant domestic resources including wind power and natural gas.

In DE, only one Mayor has signed the pledge (James Ford, Mayor of Lewes)

Please contact your Mayor's office today and urge them to sign the pledge for energy independence!

Go to this link to find the full list of Mayors who have signed the pledge:
http://www.pickensplan.com/news/2008/11/21/mayors/

Thanks.

Comment by Michael, Houston on November 1, 2008 at 7:35am

Thousands of new GREEN JOBS are now posted on GREEN JOBS NOW! group page. Join the group today and we will keep you informed. http://push.pickensplan.com/group/greenjobsnowcom
Tell your friends looking for a job to sign up on the PickensPlan and upload their resume FREE at: www.green-jobs-now.com
Melissa
coordinator@green-jobs-now.com

Comment by Ed Matricardi on October 31, 2008 at 9:31am

We need to deliver a copy of the Pickens Petition to both the Obama & McCain state HQs before Election Day...thus far, no one has stepped forward to volunteer in DE...please let me know who can take a couple of minutes to drop it off and send us pictures of the delivery that we can post on the website and use with media outreach. thanks!

Comment by Ed Matricardi on October 16, 2008 at 10:19am

Del. regulators OK Delmarva Power wind contracts

By RANDALL CHASE 10.08.08, 10:49 AM ET
DOVER, DEL. -

Delaware regulators gave Delmarva Power the go-ahead to buy electricity from developers of land-based wind farms in Maryland and Pennsylvania.

The Public Service Commission on Tuesday voted unanimously to approve proposed agreements with AES Corp. of Virginia and Synergics Wind Energy of Annapolis, Md.

Plans call for Delmarva, a subsidiary of Pepco Holdings Inc. (otcbb: PMLCP.OB - news - people ), to purchase power from two Synergics wind farms in Garrett County in western Maryland. Synergics would supply up to 100 megawatts of wind energy and renewable energy credits under two 20-year contracts.

AES would supply power to Delmarva under a 15-year contract from a wind farm in northern Pennsylvania. A group of regional electrical cooperatives also is slated to buy wind power from the Pennsylvania site.

"We intend to start construction at the end of this month and have already invested millions of dollars on this particular project," said Charles Falter, an AES managing director who oversees wind power projects in eastern North America.

The Pennsylvania wind farm and one of the two Maryland sites are scheduled to be up and running by the end of next year, with the third project coming online in 2010.

The three wind farms are expected to provide wind power at below-market cost during the contract periods and could generate at least 170 megawatts of wind energy and renewable energy credits. Delmarva Power officials said the land-based wind farms, coupled with an earlier 25-year power purchase agreement with developers of a wind farm off the Delaware coast, will allow the company to meet its renewable energy goals for several years.

"It's a good day," Delmarva President Gary Stockbridge said.

While the land-based wind farms received overwhelming support, University of Delaware professor Jeremy Firestone said he was not convinced that Delmarva Power adequately considered the alternative of purchasing more energy from Bluewater Wind LLC's planned offshore wind farm.

"The question is, 'Can we do better?'" said Firestone, a professor of marine policy at UD.

Firestone also questioned whether the possible impact from the Maryland project on an endangered bat species and other environmental issues were properly addressed.

But Synergics president Wayne Rogers noted that the odds a bat would be near the wind farm are infinitesimal because they forage in areas near waterways, not on mountain tops. He also said they tend to fly about 30 feet off the ground, while the bottom of a rotor blade on one of the turbines would be about 120 feet above the ground.

After a lengthy PSC hearing, Firestone recommended approving the two sites scheduled to come online next year. But he said the commission should wait to take final action on the second Maryland site until the possibility of buying more offshore wind power was carefully evaluated.

"Time is not of the essence on that contract," he said. "I think we should take more time and evaluate what's really in the best interest of Delawareans."

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