“America cannot build a 21st Century energy economy with a mid-20th Century electricity system. This is why the Obama Administration is investing in projects that will lay the foundation for a modernized, resilient electrical grid.  By working with industry leaders and the private sector, we can drive the evolution to a clean, smart, national electricity system that will create jobs, reduce energy use, expand renewable energy production, and cut carbon pollution.”  Secretary Energy Steven Chu

“Natural gas is not the ultimate solution at ending our dependence on foreign oil… But natural-gas vehicles must be part of the solution as well, because With new extraction techniques we now have 35% more accessible natural gas than we did two years ago.” – Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ)

Compressed natural gas bus life-cycle costs are at least 45 percent lower than diesels or hybrids because they are more economical to purchase, fuel, and maintain.

“A reliable and affordable supply of U.S. energy has profound impacts on every sector of our economy and is the backbone of the U.S. employment base.  Natural gas is a clean-burning, low-carbon fuel that is predominantly produced here at home. This caucus will serve to investigate and debate the economic and national security implications of the newfound abundance of natural gas in the United States.”  Sen. Mary Landrieu on the launch of the Congressional Natural Gas Caucus

In 2008, nearly 90 percent of the natural gas consumed in the United States came from domestic U.S. supplies

Only 20% of homes built before 1980 are well insulated.  One of the most cost-effective ways to make your home more comfortable year-round is to add insulation to your attic. Adding insulation to the attic is relatively easy and very cost effective.

“The move from $33 to $68 a barrel — during a time of surplus — offers just a whiff of what will happen when supply tightens again. If the recession passes and scarcity sets in, the return of energy angst will make for giddy prices in the oil market.” – Edward Silver, energy analyst and former Los Angeles Times writer.

“In a time when fiscal resources are strained and the country is seeking energy security, natural gas vehicles are the right fit.  We look forward to watching them become a mainstay of society here in the United States.”  David Parker, president and CEO of AGA.

President Barack Obama has pledged $3.4 billion in government support for 100 projects aimed at modernizing the nation’s power grid.

According to an Associated Press article written by reporter Chuck Babbington, the President “likened the effort to the ambitious development of the national highway system 50 years ago. He said modernization would lead to a ’smarter, stronger and more secure electric grid.’”

Development of a 21st century grid has been a centerpiece of the Pickens Plan. It will allow existing sources of electricity to be moved more efficiently around the country, and will enhance the development of news sources of energy - largely wind and solar - by making possible to get the energy from where it is being produced to where it is needed.

The grants will be to about 100 projects where were selected from 400 submitted. According to the AP, “The projects include installing ’smart’ electric meters in homes, automating utility substations, and installing thousands of new digital transformers and grid sensors.”

The money is part of the stimulus package which was approved by Congress in January. Babbington reports,

The $3.4 billion in grants from the government’s January economic stimulus program will be matched by $4.7 billion in private investments. The smallest grant will be $400,000 and the largest $200 million.

To read the entire Associated Press article, go HERE.

– The Pickens Team

Liquefied natural gas, or LNG, is created by supercooling natural gas to minus-260 degrees Fahrenheit. In that hyper-frigid state, natural gas takes up to 600 times less space, making it much easier and cheaper to store and transport.

The number of utility-scale wind turbine manufacturers assembling nacelles in the U.S. increased from just one in 2004 to five in 2008, with five additional manufacturers publicly announcing the location of future assembly plants.

Amount of money that would be saved if the energy efficiency of commercial and industrial buildings improved by 10 percent: $20 billion.

Amount of greenhouse gas emissions that would be reduced if the energy efficiency of commercial and industrial buildings improved by 10 percent: equal to about 30 million vehicles.

Over 10% of the electricity generation in Iowa and Minnesota now comes from wind power.

The Greater New Haven Clean Cities Coalition, Inc.’s Connecticut Clean Cities Future Fuels Project will deploy multiple fuels and technologies.  Vehicles to be deployed include 163 CNG, the vast majority for high mileage taxis and 18 heavy-duty LNG refuse trucks.  Infrastructure to be deployed includes three CNG stations, one combined B20/CNG/Electric station, one L/CNG station, one hydrogen station, and seven electric chargers.  DOE estimates that the initiative will help displace 1.4 million gallons of petroleum annually.

“I think there is a lot of momentum building for the use of natural gas for transportation.  I think it’s just a matter of time before you start to see more people focused on this as a key component of gaining energy independence, gaining energy security.”  Oklahoma House Speaker Chris Benge