10 Year Energy Plans from Gore,T Boone Pickens, and Richard Branson: I am glad someone is stepping up but have to wonder where will we be in 10 Years?

In a nutshell while our Political idiots continue to nothing as they all accuse the other side of failure while once again refusing to come together and do the right thing for the Nation and the world. I am glad to see such influential people step up and try to resolve ours and the worlds energy needs while we still stand a chance at a future. Three influential people have now stepped forward with money and plans that at least give us a little hoper something we all drastically need today. Richard Branson was first almost 2 years ago when amongst other things he we heard this! Commenting on an announcement by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group of a 10-year, three billion dollar commitment to renewable energy initiatives, Friends of the Earth's head of campaigns, Mike Childs, said:

"As one of the top business leaders it's welcome that Richard Branson has recognized the urgent need to tackle climate change. Whilst his investment in bio-fuels is welcome, this can only be a small part of the solution, and must not distract from the need to cut emissions. Biofuels can provide a greener alternative to oil based fuels, but this is only true if they are produced sustainably and don't interfere with food production and biodiversity protection. Richard's Branson's train business will be an important part of the future, encouraging people to take the train instead of flying, but the fast growth in air flights can not be maintained without causing climatic disaster. Just one of Branson's proposals

Finally someone from our Nation that can help has also stepped forward with a doable 10 year plan! Al Gore Al Gore is challenging the United States to produce all of its electricity through wind power, solar power and other environmentally friendly sources within 10 years. Gore said the transition would not only help resolve America's current energy and economic problems, but would also improve U.S. national security by reducing dependence on foreign oil. VOA Correspondent Cindy Saine reports from Washington. Al Gore received a rock star welcome at an energy conference in Washington, where he issued a challenge to the country.

"So today I challenge our nation to commit to producing 100 percent of our electricity from renewable energy and truly clean, carbon-free sources within 10 years," he said. Called an alarmist by some critics, Gore has made global climate change his signature issue, and his efforts won him a Nobel Prize. He admitted that weaning Americans off fossil fuels would require placing a carbon tax on burning oil and coal, which his plan would offset with a reduction in payroll taxes. But Gore said soaring gasoline prices and the current economic turmoil have created a new political environment where Americans are hungry for change. "I do not remember a time in our country when so many things seem to be going so wrong simultaneously," he said. "Our economy is in terrible shape and getting worse, people are hurting. Gasoline prices are increasing dramatically and so are electricity rates. Jobs are being outsourced, home mortgages are in trouble. Banks, automobile companies, other institutions we depend upon are under growing pressure."

Gore called on all Americans to pull together, citing the kind of national effort that made it possible for Neil Armstrong to walk on the moon just eight years after former President John F. Kennedy issued that challenge. He said both presidential candidates, his fellow Democrat Barack Obama and the presumptive Republican nominee John McCain are way ahead of most politicians in the fight against global climate change. But Gore did criticize President Bush's proposal to resume offshore oil drilling as a way to address the current energy crisis. "It is only a truly dysfunctional system that would buy into the perverse logic that the short-term answer to high gasoline prices is drilling for oil 10 years from now in areas that should be protected," he said. Amen Al Gore

In response to this T Boone Pickens responded to Al Gore's Generational Challenge to Repower America speech, saying he and the former vice president "have two different objectives and our plans should be viewed with that in mind." Last week, the billionaire discussed the Pickens plan he hopes will reduce foreign oil imports by more than 30% in the next 5 to 10 years. In a release issued through BP Capital, Pickens said Gore "put forward a framework of a plan that is focused on global warming and climate issues. My plan is aimed squarely at breaking the stranglehold that foreign oil has on our country and the $700 billion annual impact it has on our economy. ... Vice President Gore's plan does not address this enormous problem.

In a speech on Thursday at a Washington energy conference, Gore called for the U.S. to produce all of its electricity from renewable energy and carbon-free sources within 10 years. Last week, Pickens unveiled a plan that involves using wind to supplant natural gas, which could then be used towards transportation. "It's time for us to take responsibility for the problem we've created and act now," Pickens said. "The Federal Government should provide the leadership to clear the way for action and private enterprise should build the infrastructure to get it done. Only in that way can we recapture our energy destiny. Pickens Says He And Gore Have Different Objectives

* We all know how one sided my way or nothing Partisan bickering resulting in absolutely nothing getting done is destroyin us and the world. It is a breath of fresh air to see 3 distinguished fellows step forward with money and positive ideas. That they differ is a plus as we see from Politics there is no one idea but a melding of many will get us out of this. I am afraid we still have to hope our Governments will realize this and cooperate with "we the people" If we are to be saved it will come from us!



James Joiner
Gardner Ma
www.anaveragepatriot.com