Open discussion on local water sources, T. Boone Pickens
Hi folks-
I have recently heard that a close local township and possibly others are looking into an offer from T. Boone Pickens to erect wind turbines on their land.
While this sounds like a fantastic idea, I have also heard that Mr. Pickens whole push for Wind Energy as a way to ween us from foreign oil dependency is actually based in the fact that he is somehow not only getting the rights to erect the turbines, but also the rights to the WATER under that land.
Mr. Pickens has been quoted as saying that water is the next oil. He should know- he made a killing from oil.
Apparently, he owns most of the Texas water rights and will be selling water according to how far it has to travel.
You can read more about his ideas here and all over the internet:
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_25/b4089040017753.htm
According to current water stats, within 20 years most of the world will be thirsty. Which is why people who look ahead to the future, like Mr. Pickens, are gobbling up water rights. We can already see drought and the value of water in the western U.S. "water wars" currently taking place.
http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1631762/world_faces_water_bank...
To me, there are two issues here:
The first is obviously the decline in available freshwater and the implementation of conservation and other solutions with respect to the effects on the environment, and the scale of water waste in industrial processes, etc. (For an excellent synopsis of how much water is used in the actual Production of different types of food, and how much water is consumed by country, look up the Virtual Water Project.)
The second is the water rights issue - will we allow unregulated corporate/private interests to control our very water supply? We have just witnessed what happens when any industry goes unregulated with the current recession/banking blow-out. And according to what I've heard concerning local townships, this is literally happening right across the street from me.
I'm not totally sure how my local water authority works, but I know several municipalities receive their water from it, each with a member on the board. As far as I can tell, this looks like a wonderful idea, giving shared power to all that use the utility. They could probably utilize this same structure to erect wind turbines.
Could the other townships currently in conversation with Mr.Pickens do the same, and retain control of their own resources? Or am I being naive about a larger picture somehow?
I'd also like to add the following, just in case you are thinking "they'd never allow that!"
Quote:"But Pickens’s lobbying powers aren’t limited to the Lone Star state. Pickens testified yesterday in front of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Pickens told Congress to expand the scope of eminent domain and right-of-way, which are currently controlled at the state level, so companies like his Mesa Wind and Water can operate across state lines."
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_25/b4089040017753.h...
Quote:"Not just anyone can exercise the right of eminent domain. According to BW, Pickens had his lobbyists exert pressure on the Texas legislature to give joint energy and water transmission lines right-of-way. To get the power of eminent domain, Pickens formed his own eight-acre water district on his property and now has the power to annex land “for the common good.”
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_25/b4089040017753.h...
Quote: "According to Business Week, Pickens owns more water than any other individual in the country through water rights in the Ogallala aquifer under the same land he is putting turbines up on."
http://earth2tech.com/2008/06/20/t-boone-pickens-taps-water-wind-fo...
If you are interested in this topic, I highly suggest you do some light reading, and also look up other sources online:
http://vancouverpeakoil.org/2008/08/23/t-boone-pickens-wants-your-w...
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_25/b4089040017753.h...
I'm really interested in everyone's ideas, comments, information, etc. regarding this.
I have recently heard that a close local township and possibly others are looking into an offer from T. Boone Pickens to erect wind turbines on their land.
While this sounds like a fantastic idea, I have also heard that Mr. Pickens whole push for Wind Energy as a way to ween us from foreign oil dependency is actually based in the fact that he is somehow not only getting the rights to erect the turbines, but also the rights to the WATER under that land.
Mr. Pickens has been quoted as saying that water is the next oil. He should know- he made a killing from oil.
Apparently, he owns most of the Texas water rights and will be selling water according to how far it has to travel.
You can read more about his ideas here and all over the internet:
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_25/b4089040017753.htm
According to current water stats, within 20 years most of the world will be thirsty. Which is why people who look ahead to the future, like Mr. Pickens, are gobbling up water rights. We can already see drought and the value of water in the western U.S. "water wars" currently taking place.
http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1631762/world_faces_water_bank...
To me, there are two issues here:
The first is obviously the decline in available freshwater and the implementation of conservation and other solutions with respect to the effects on the environment, and the scale of water waste in industrial processes, etc. (For an excellent synopsis of how much water is used in the actual Production of different types of food, and how much water is consumed by country, look up the Virtual Water Project.)
The second is the water rights issue - will we allow unregulated corporate/private interests to control our very water supply? We have just witnessed what happens when any industry goes unregulated with the current recession/banking blow-out. And according to what I've heard concerning local townships, this is literally happening right across the street from me.
I'm not totally sure how my local water authority works, but I know several municipalities receive their water from it, each with a member on the board. As far as I can tell, this looks like a wonderful idea, giving shared power to all that use the utility. They could probably utilize this same structure to erect wind turbines.
Could the other townships currently in conversation with Mr.Pickens do the same, and retain control of their own resources? Or am I being naive about a larger picture somehow?
I'd also like to add the following, just in case you are thinking "they'd never allow that!"
Quote:"But Pickens’s lobbying powers aren’t limited to the Lone Star state. Pickens testified yesterday in front of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Pickens told Congress to expand the scope of eminent domain and right-of-way, which are currently controlled at the state level, so companies like his Mesa Wind and Water can operate across state lines."
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_25/b4089040017753.h...
Quote:"Not just anyone can exercise the right of eminent domain. According to BW, Pickens had his lobbyists exert pressure on the Texas legislature to give joint energy and water transmission lines right-of-way. To get the power of eminent domain, Pickens formed his own eight-acre water district on his property and now has the power to annex land “for the common good.”
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_25/b4089040017753.h...
Quote: "According to Business Week, Pickens owns more water than any other individual in the country through water rights in the Ogallala aquifer under the same land he is putting turbines up on."
http://earth2tech.com/2008/06/20/t-boone-pickens-taps-water-wind-fo...
If you are interested in this topic, I highly suggest you do some light reading, and also look up other sources online:
http://vancouverpeakoil.org/2008/08/23/t-boone-pickens-wants-your-w...
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_25/b4089040017753.h...
I'm really interested in everyone's ideas, comments, information, etc. regarding this.
posted by Dead Mouse Girl at 2:41 PM
0 comments
links to this post
