Oklahomans seem to be showing some interest in renewable and alternative energy sources. The governor is getting on the bandwagon, too.
Gov. Brad Henry has signed the pledge endorsing Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens' plan to "drill, drill, drill" and somehow reduce our dependence on foreign oil by 30 percent within 10 years. Mr. Pickens has launched a multi-million dollar advertising campaign that urges state and federal leaders to take the "Pickens Pledge."
The governor signed the pledge that urges the next President and Congress to enact energy policies that address renewable and alternative fuels such as wind power and natural gas in an effort to reduce oil imports.
Oklahoma is in a unique position to advance the Pickens Plan. Oklahoma companies are a major producer of natural gas and are becoming a player in the wind-generated power market.
Separately, at an energy forum in Oklahoma City, officials suggested conservation as a way to reduce our dependence on oil. "It's the lowest-hanging fruit available," Oklahoma's Deputy Secretary of Energy Bobby Wegener told the Journal Record newspaper.
Forum participants, according to the Journal Record, want tax incentives to encourage conservation and the development of alternative energy sources.
We're not running out of energy. It's just that consumption of traditional energy sources is outpacing production. The world's appetite for oil and natural gas has grown to the point where traditional supply and demand market forces don't always apply.
Opinion
Oklahomans getting behind alternative, renewable energy
- Opinion
-
-
Outhouse enthusiast’s hobby more than a relief
Editor’s note: This previously-published column has been a reader favorite and is one of the most requested columns....
-
Homosexuals must convince themselves, God
Editor, The Transcript: I am not one of those in favor of same-sex anything. According to the Bible, homesexuality is a sin. Now maybe there is a new Bible out there — the homosexual Bible. I will check at Barnes & Noble....
-
Occupy movement built on principle
Editor, The Transcript: We the People Stand Tall! Bruce Kessler ends his letter to the editor “We the people must stand up — 8 May, 2012,” with a strong message: We the people — the very words that begin our Constitution — must work ...
-
Parents proud of two schools’ rankings
Editor, The Transcript: Norman parents are justifiably proud that U.S. News and World Report recently ranked Norman High School as No. 6 in our state and No. 862 in the nation and Norman North as No. 9 in the state and 1,096 in the nation ...
-
Reducing state rates would be of minor help
Editor, The Transcript: A Transcript editorial (May 22), in discussing the proposed reduction in income tax rates in HB 3061, states that the “trigger” mechanism is a good thing, citing the rate cut from 5.5 to 5.25 because of the 4 ...
-
Sykes trying to secure seat
Editor, The Transcript: By the time this reaches you, the issues surrounding HB 2440 may have been laid to rest. Based on your article of this date, let me make these observations....
-
Fallin proposes a flawed tax-cut plan
There was some relief in the tax-cut proposal negotiated with Gov. Mary Fallin and Republican legislative leaders, but it still calls for some difficult reductions to some necessary services....
-
Corporate deception rules
Editor, The Transcript: Jamie Dimon, JP Morgan Chase’s chief executive, said he does not know how the bank lost $3 billion (originally estimated at $2 billion) in a trading scheme. He called the trades “sloppy” and “stupid” but could not ...
-
What features create a cultural center?
The question has been raised whether an aquatic center somehow constitutes a cultural center. Although the more thorough response would be to ask, in turn, what features create a cultural center, this short treatise will simply focus on ...
-
Keep the capitol gun-free
Attorneys working for the state AG’s office are now able to carry handguns in their duties representing state agencies. They won’t need a concealed weapon permit. It’s the same as laws allowing U.S. attorneys, district attorneys and their ...
- More Opinion Headlines
-
Outhouse enthusiast’s hobby more than a relief
