Friday at noon, I joined about 2,000 Dallasites at a luncheon hosted by the World Affairs Council to hear Tom Friedman discuss his new book, Hot, Flat and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution--and How It Can Renew America.
Friedman's speech challenged me deeply. Everyone needs to read his book, especially both presidential candidates. Clearly, we are in the midst of a gigantic community problem as a nation. (Note: order his book by using the Amazon.com link to the right and below. Your order will help CDM!)
Friedman ridiculed the so-called "Green Revolution." He noted that there has never been a revolution during which no one got hurt. At this point, we may have a green party, but we have no revolution.
What is needed is strong federal leadership that would include establishing and sending a strong "price signal" so that innovators would get serious about investing in clean, sustainable, renewable, national energy.
Even if the entire global warming thing is a hoax (which he points out it is not), Friedman believes that acting as if it is a real threat will lead our nation in exactly the way it should go for the sake of security, world leadership, peace and freedom.
Last Sunday, Friedman appeared on NBC's Meet the Press. I hope you'll take the time to watch his conversation with Tom Brokow here. Friedman made many of the same points during his speech here in Dallas.
Reactions?
Showing posts with label energy production. Show all posts
Showing posts with label energy production. Show all posts
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Speaking of "Green"
If you haven't tuned in on T. Boone Pickens' website, www.Pickensplan.com, you need to! Interesting stuff from a guy who is usually out ahead of the curve in terms of development and what's coming next.
I found one of his recent "mini-lectures" particularly engaging.
Take a look at it here and tell me what you think.
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I found one of his recent "mini-lectures" particularly engaging.
Take a look at it here and tell me what you think.
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Monday, August 18, 2008
The inner city could help
I've said it before. Let me say it again.
If I were about 15-20 years younger, I would make a career change. (Is a career what I have?)
I would put together an investment fund group and I would start a new energy company.
Our product?
Solar panels.
My hiring practices would be a bit unorthodox. Most of my employees, the vast majority of my workforce, would be drawn from the inner city unemployed and underemployed. Many of my team would be ex-incarcerated and looking for a new start and a new life. I think our company could answer that call.
My marketing strategy would include a new wrinkle or two as well. I'd bill our little company something like "Patriot Power."
That would fit well because we would be responding to the nation's need for increased national security, while decreasing the production of greenhouse gases via the use of petroleum products.
In the process, we would help grow the economy and inject new economic power into the inner city.
In short, we would be helping free everyone from the need to import and burn Middle Eastern and other foreign oil while making a positive contribution to improving the environment, stimulating our sagging economy and putting people with real challenges on the right path.
One huge rate-limiter would be the response of the American Congress. Making the shift to a new energy strategy and product will require subsidies and seed funding to build the necessary infrastructure and to train new workers.
Would you invest in my new company?
.
If I were about 15-20 years younger, I would make a career change. (Is a career what I have?)
I would put together an investment fund group and I would start a new energy company.
Our product?
Solar panels.
My hiring practices would be a bit unorthodox. Most of my employees, the vast majority of my workforce, would be drawn from the inner city unemployed and underemployed. Many of my team would be ex-incarcerated and looking for a new start and a new life. I think our company could answer that call.
My marketing strategy would include a new wrinkle or two as well. I'd bill our little company something like "Patriot Power."
That would fit well because we would be responding to the nation's need for increased national security, while decreasing the production of greenhouse gases via the use of petroleum products.
In the process, we would help grow the economy and inject new economic power into the inner city.
In short, we would be helping free everyone from the need to import and burn Middle Eastern and other foreign oil while making a positive contribution to improving the environment, stimulating our sagging economy and putting people with real challenges on the right path.
One huge rate-limiter would be the response of the American Congress. Making the shift to a new energy strategy and product will require subsidies and seed funding to build the necessary infrastructure and to train new workers.
Would you invest in my new company?
.
Friday, July 25, 2008
T. Boone Pickens, Al Gore and "Green Collar" Jobs
Have you seen T. Boone Pickens on television promoting his plan to make the United States energy independent via wind power and natural gas?
Click on the title line above to go to his blog and read more of his plan.
Sunday one of his commercial spots played right before Meet the Press aired with Al Gore as the featured guest. Gore believes we can be completely energy independent in ten years.
Click on the title line above to go to his blog and read more of his plan.
Sunday one of his commercial spots played right before Meet the Press aired with Al Gore as the featured guest. Gore believes we can be completely energy independent in ten years.
Fascinating conversation. 
One thing I know for sure. Something is up when Boone Pickens and Al Gore are in agreement!
All week I've been thinking about the potential opportunity for my low-income, struggling friends here in inner city Dallas.
What if we could bring together a plan in our city for the development of a whole new industry that demanded the creation of thousands of "green collar" jobs?
One thing I know for sure. Something is up when Boone Pickens and Al Gore are in agreement!
All week I've been thinking about the potential opportunity for my low-income, struggling friends here in inner city Dallas.
What if we could bring together a plan in our city for the development of a whole new industry that demanded the creation of thousands of "green collar" jobs?
By that I mean new jobs in the energy production and conservation business that no longer depend on fossil fuels. You know: solar panels, retro-fitting public buildings, installation, manufacturing, maintenance, landscaping, water management, etc. Training our neighbors to work in this arena could radically alter the state of urban America.
There is no doubt in my mind that we are on the verge of a new day in this nation when it comes to energy. I just don't want the poor to be bypassed in the amazing revolution that appears to be upon us.
We're working on it.
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There is no doubt in my mind that we are on the verge of a new day in this nation when it comes to energy. I just don't want the poor to be bypassed in the amazing revolution that appears to be upon us.
We're working on it.
.
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