I've heard her speak. She loves to talk but she never quite says anything of substance.

Here's a challenge for you Chaz. In 200 words or less of concrete, specific language tell us just what her plan is. And don't give us that public transportation jive. We all know that can't possibly do the job.

No nonsense of drilling that leased land either. Anyone who can Google knows how those leases work and that there's no exploitable oil there.

Rowland,

OK I'll take the challenge. Here's how I see it.

Like the Apollo project, Carol Shea Porter proposes that we bring our greatest minds together from many fields in a co ordinated effort to envision and execute an energy plan that will provide energy far into the 21st century.

The sky is the limit and everything is on the table including the vital work of our oil industry.

Americans have always been resourceful--But like any undertaking we need a comprehensive outlook on energy. That would include conservation, funding for research and development and incentives for new technologies. Many Americans expect us to lead the world in new technologies and open up new markets at the same time.

That's it in a nutshell.

Rowland--for those of us that are old enough to remember the Apollo project was one of the most inspiration time in recent history.

We need that type of can do American attitude again.

Apollo program as in to the moon? LOL, Chaz that's a good one.

So her plan is to take even MORE money from hardworking Americans who are already struggling in hopes that by dumping enough forced donations at "great minds" we may actually have a solution in our lifetime.

Nice. So as more and more Americans lose their homes because they no longer have the money for their mortgage, while they continue having to drive 10 year old cars that suck gas because they can't afford a new car payment and while they generally struggle Carol is taking more money from them to invest in pipe dreams!

Here's an idea Chaz and feel free to pass this on to Carol... how about letting us KEEP our money and find our own solutions.

Let's do some math for a moment... The average American family uses 2000 gallons of gas per year. According to the Today show this morning we pay on average across the country 40 cents per gallon in tax. That's $800 taken from each American family already and what do we currently see to show for that? If people however had that money and could invest in programmable thermostats, tankless water heaters, solar panels etc those companies would directly get that money to invest in development of even better products. Instead we see car companies struggling because people can't afford cars... the companies in turn do not have the money to invest in research and the problems continue.

"Like the Apollo project, Carol Shea Porter proposes that we bring our greatest minds together from many fields in a co ordinated effort to envision and execute an energy plan that will provide energy far into the 21st century."

And who exactly are these great minds?

Please don't say former Senator Jim Rubens. Over here in 2D he is advising Congressional candidate Bosse on energy policy.
I've asked Bosse substative questions about energy issues that directly face northern New Hampshire. He never responds.
But of course Bosse has no problems going to the newspaper for an interview and stating that power plants need to be constructed in northern New Hampshire. My guess is that this is what former Senator Rubens told him to say. And so it goes.

I would suggest that the usual naysayers and wet blankets here take the time to read what Dr. Jay Buckey has said about the huge potential gains America could reap if it just had some leadership on energy.

Jay is and M.D. and an honest to God astronaut who flew a shuttle mission. When he was running for the Senate he spoke and wrote about new direction in energy.

So for starters, there's one "great mind"

Dr. Buckey also happens to be a very down to Earth friendly guy.

Here's a statement from Jays old website.

When he started talking about the Apollo project all I could think was that Carol Shea Porter had said the same think, but two years earlier.

But lately I've seen economists calling for just this type of commitment from the United States.

In Jay Buckey's words:

Policy Perspective: Energy

The U.S. needs to move away from petroleum and toward renewable alternatives – and we must
develop the technologies for alternative energy right here in the U.S. Less than ten years after John Kennedy announced the Apollo program’s goal of sending humans to the Moon, Neil Armstrong stepped
onto the moon’s surface.

Our country now needs a new Apollo-style program for energy so we can:

End our dependence on foreign oil: Today, the United States has less than 3% of the world's oil reserves, but accounts for more than 25% of global demand.1 Our use of renewable energy sources has been essentially flat over the past 20 years, thereby increasing the demand for petroleum.2
About 20 percent of the oil used in the U.S. comes from the Persian Gulf region. Before the current
Iraq conflict, an estimated $49.1 billion was spent annually to secure our access to Persian Gulf oil.
Now the estimate is $137.8 billion annually.3 In addition to the tremendous human costs of the Iraq
War, this “hidden cost” amounts to anywhere from an extra $55 to $170/barrel for oil imported
into the U.S. from the Persian Gulf.
Protect our climate: Because burning petroleum produces carbon dioxide that can change the
world’s climate, the faster we can move away from fossil fuels, the better we can protect the Earth
against global warming. From the shrinking polar ice caps to the shorter ski seasons here in New
Hampshire, there is overwhelming evidence that global warming is a threat to our planet.
Remain leaders in the changing global economy: Failure to move aggressively to alternative
energy sources here in the U.S. means that new energy technology is being developed outside the
U.S. This helps other nation’s economies – and harms ours. For example:
· Bell Labs invented the solar cell in New Jersey in 1954, but now 90 percent of solar panels are
manufactured overseas.
· General Motors produced the first electric car, but now Toyota and Honda lead in hybrid
technology.
· Many of our major competitors – including China - have established fuel economy standards
that leave us behind.4 These reduce their dependence on petroleum, while ours increases.
The U.S. must commit to investing in and supporting innovation in clean energy technology. We have all
the talents and resources necessary; the only thing that is lacking is leadership in Washington. We must
create a supportive climate to develop new ideas and bring them to market.
As your Senator, I will be a strong advocate for building a “New Energy Economy” in America

Chaz, part of the reason most items are manufactured over seas is because they are able to be made there CHEAPER.

And yes, America does use more energy because Americans CHOOSE to. Look at what cars overseas countries were buying and look at types we here in America bought. We're driving around in SUVs while most of Europe uses subcompacts.

Taking more money out of the pockets of Americans and tossing them at technology that many other companies will in turn be able to manufacture cheaper (which you prove yourself in the statement above showing we invented many of the products now made overseas) isn't going to help this country. When people can't afford to buy the solar panels or afford to trade in their 10 year old SUVs because too much of their pay is being taken from them there is no market buying power to drive the new development.

Chaz,

I like the idea...but we shouldn't have the government do it.. they would just screw it up.
Why not get all those 'great minds' together outside of the government. Why not ask Bill Gate, Warren Buffett, George Soros, Larry Ellison to fund it? Why have it be the taxpayers?

Citizen of NH

Sure--let's let the savings and loan industry or ex Enron executives lead us.

A lot of these people have time on their hands.

On the non sarcastic side, the notion that government is always inept and the private sector is always competent is weak.

Let's join the best of the public and private sectors in mutual co operation for the good of our country.

That's what's in the best interest of America.

Right now we're gridlocked because Oil company lobbying and George Bush won't allow us to think outside the box.