Red Dirt Blog

Walters Meets with Clinton on Haiti Relief Efforts

Gov. Walters met with President Bill Clinton Wednesday afternoon at The Clinton Foundation offices in New York to discuss the Haitian emergency relief efforts.  

Walters was joined by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY), Department of Commerce representatives, former FEMA director James Lee Whitt, business executives, government officials and relief organization representatives.

"Offers of assistance and suggestions for streamlining aid supplies were made," said Walters, president of Walters Power International. WPI has experience in providing power to that part of the world, having delivered a pair of power barges to the Dominican Republic in 1998.

Walters suggested providing better “focal points” for those with equipment, supplies and services in the housing, water, food, clothing, electricity, sanitation and security sectors. Walters said providing common focal points would assist government agencies and those wishing to establish company-to-company contacts to provide support.

"There are a lot of people who want to help the people of Haiti in the wake of this tragic natural disaster," Walters said. "Anytime you have assistance coming from a lot of different directions, focus is essential. Establishing clear contact points ensure that this help gets where it needs to be in the most efficient manner possible." 

The meeting was held at The Clinton Foundation offices in Harlem.  The meeting had been scheduled prior to the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti this week as part of President Clinton's work as a U.N. envoy for Haiti. The original agenda had been to work on the long-term improvements for Haiti, but the meeting was quickly converted to a relief support session.

Musings from Mike: What Did YOU Get from Tuesday's Elections?

By Mike Williams
cmwilliamsconsulting@gmail.com

Apparently, voters are fed up with Wall Street funding its own in the campaigns for continuing power. 

Despite the fact that he spent more than $100 million against an opponent almost no one knew, Republican New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg garnered only slightly more than 51% of the vote Tuesday, despite predictions that he would run away with the race because of his unlimited funding.  The same was true for New Jersey's Democratic Governor Corzine, who lost his office to an opponent who was wildly outspent and was a virtual unknown going into the race (in fact, he's STILL pretty much an unknown).

Most interesting of all, though, is the purging of Sarah Palin's Republican Party as activists turn on anyone in the GOP who has ever had a moderate thought.  Nothing proves our nation's voters will not tolerate extremes like the New York District 23 Congressional race.  Extremist Republicans rebelled at the Republican candidate, a sitting member of the New York State Assembly, because she dared to support abortion rights, gay marriage, and the stimulus bill that pulled America back from the edge of depression.  They turned instead to the Conservative Party candidate because he held views further to the right than the Republican.  The backlash against moderation and tolerance among Republican activists, led by 2012 Presidential hopefuls Sarah Palin and Tim Pawlenty, that the Republican candidate finally withdrew from the race three days before the election.  All pundits predicted a victory for the "even more conservative" candidate of the conservative party.

Voters, on the other hand, rejected that extremism -- and elected a Democrat to the post for the first time since the 1800s.  The Republican Party is imploding.  Once again, the party has drifted so far to the right that candidates who are rightwing enough to win Republican primaries discover that they are too far right to be elected in the general election.

Let that be a lesson to Democrats, as well.  America's voters are in the middle -- not EITHER extreme. 

That is particularly true in Oklahoma in the coming election cycle.  Additionally, as pointed out by my wife, Cari (the best intuitive political strategist I have every met), 2010 -- more than any election cycle in recent history -- will be a year of LOCAL issues.  People are hurting.  Jobs are lost LOCALLY.  Finances are tight LOCALLY.  Businesses are closing LOCALLY.  Roads are being neglected LOCALLY.   As Cari so aptly puts it, "No one who is unemployed, hungry, or scared is going to care about any major statewide issues, let alone the 'starving children in China' -- unfortunately."

2010 candidates -- even candidates for statewide office -- who fail to recognize the needs of INDIVIDUAL VOTERS and LOCAL COMMUNITIES will likely suffer the same fate as those who lean toward extremes on the left or right -- a chance to prepare their candidacy for the NEXT election cycle after they lose this one.

In 2010...beware the "big picture" and the extreme positions.  They'll both spell doom.

That's what I took from Tuesday's elections.  How 'bout you?

He Should Have Won Two Nobel Peace Prizes

By David Walters

Congratulations and well deserved, President Obama.

Frustrated while listening to those who would argue that President Obama has done nothing to deserve the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize, I hoped to quickly borrow someone else’s list to answer the critics. I searched the Internet and was surprised by the negativity – link after link of virulent, statements claiming he had no accomplishments. Denied the lazy way out, I made my own Top 10 list of accomplishments related to world peace.

1. Inspiring a nation and changing perception of America around the world.

All along the campaign trail, millions of Americans cheered candidate Obama’s views on the advantage of – and his intent to conduct – personal diplomacy in foreign policy. Contrast this with his opponent, Sen. McCain, who sang “bomb, bomb, bomb … bomb, bomb Iran” at a campaign stop. Obama’s message resonated outside the U.S. as well. More than 200,000 gathered in the streets of Berlin to hear Obama call for nuclear disarmament. It was a bold and brave stance in the middle of a highly competitive presidential campaign. Perhaps when the Nobel Committee referred to “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy,” they were aware of the full history.

2. Reclaiming America’s moral high ground.

Obama reclaimed America’s moral high ground when he announced the closing of secret prisons that violated both our Constitution and the sensibilities of the world and declared an end to U.S.-sanctioned torture.

3. Reaching out to Iran with diplomacy rather than belligerence.

A remarkable and generally non-credited achievement is the positive impact of President Obama reaching out to Iran with diplomacy rather than belligerence. As a result, the Iranians decided they could now quit hating the U.S. in unison and turn their attention to getting rid of the morons running their own country, leading to the remarkable protests we witnessed following their last election. They have damn near thrown their freakish rulers out and now Iranian leaders are submitting to nuclear inspections. NONE of this was possible under a blustering Bush. 

4. Re-Engaging the world.

Instead of ignoring the Israel/Palestinian conflict for seven years as the Bush administration did, Obama immediately engaged the issue with significant results. U.S. Envoy George Mitchell and former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair, with Obama’s strong guidance and support, have dramatically eased tensions. Obama has demonstrated a sharp eye for talent on the ground. The maturity and professionalism to put a high-profile, brilliant political rival in charge of the State Department, and to have experienced envoys like Richard Holbrook crisscrossing these trouble spots, is much different than the former U.S. policy of making broad and inflammatory ideological statements and ignoring the problem.

5. Focusing attention on the real bad guys.     

At the same time Obama reaches out diplomatically, the effort to get the really bad guys has been ramped up.  I was in Pakistan when a drone took out Baitulah Massud, the murderous leader of the Pakistan Taliban with strong ties to Al Qaeda.  Drone attacks have gone up sharply with significant results.  Peace is dependent on safety and finally we are using surgical attacks rather than blunt force.

6. Joining world efforts to address environmental issues.

Obama told the world that we are no longer going to work against environmental improvements and global warming initiatives. The U.S. finally announced that carbon emissions from the world’s largest polluter are going to be reduced. Rejoining the world in this effort in a cooperative way has had enormous impact.

7. Stabilizing Pakistan    

Tripling non-military support for jobs in Pakistan to try to stabilize this nuclear-armed unstable country is the right step at a critical time.

8. Re-Evaluating Afghanistan     

Conducting and allowing the first ever open debate and discussion about the Afghan conflict with generals and numerous participants and then making a firm decision as to how to proceed is radically different than the past and very helpful to the future security of the US and the world.

9. Reducing Russian tensions

Reaching an agreement with Russia to enlist their help on Iran by moving a worthless land based missile defense system to a highly useful mobile ship based system has radically reduced tensions with this historical enemy.

10. Changing the world with words – and actions.

His opponents like to downplay Obama’s oratorical skills. They are wrong to do so. The Cairo speech changed the world. I was in London with a room full of Muslim businessmen who held a negative view of Obama and the U.S.  Following the speech, I saw their attitude change dramatically.  Obama’s blunt, truthful words released the steam from the “hate the U.S. balloon” that drives so much violence. If you have not read it, please Google it and read it. Words are important, particularly when they come out of the mouth of the President of the United States. Obama’s ability to so beautifully articulate the hopes and dreams of the U.S. – and how closely they align with the desires of billions around the globe who want only good things for their families – is important.

Frankly, the list goes on and on. Imagine trying to save the meltdown of an economy that was left in his lap while simultaneously dealing with two wars, advancing health care reform, financial controls to avoid another depression, energy policy advance, and tackling the 10 items on my list … in just nine months. They should have given him two Nobel Prizes.

French President Sarkozy had it right when he said, “this award symbolizes America’s return to the hearts of the people of the world.”  UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said, “President Obama embodies the new spirit of dialogue and engagement on the world’s biggest problems: climate change, nuclear disarmament and a wide range of peace and security challenges.  President Obama’s commitment to work through the United Nations gives the world’s people fresh hope and fresh prospects.  We at the United Nations highly applaud him and the Nobel Committee for its choice.” 

The Nobel Peace Prize is frequently about efforts rather than completed accomplishments and often intended to give momentum to causes, inspiring others to courageously pursue peace.

I agree with MSNBC host Rachel Maddow whose clear voice is resonating ever stronger, “The President of the United States has received the Nobel Peace Prize.  By any reasonable measure all Americans should be proud.”

Statement from David Walters on the Passing of Gov. Bellmon

"I knew him as personal friend and, briefly, as a political foe.  I always admired him, his family and his genuine nature.  He contributed significantly to our state’s well being with his service as governor and his home-spun wit, common sense and intelligence made him a near-perfect representative for Oklahoma to send to Washington."

A President and a King ...

As Lee Allen Smith said at this year's awards dinner, looking at the portraits of John F. Kennedy and Barry Switzer flanking the stage: "Only in America ... a President and a King!"

Dozens of former coaches and players joined a standing-room-only crowd to watch Switzer receive the 2009 John F. Kennedy Community Service Award for his 36 years of support of the Oklahoma Special Olympics.  Current coach Bob Stoops and OU Athletic Director Joe Castiglione were also on hand to honor "The King."

"That's half my life," Switzer told KWTV's Dean Blevins moments before receiving the award.

Daily Oklahoman sports columnist John Rohde wrote a great piece about Switzer and the award. You can read it here. The story by AP sports writer Jeffrey Latzke appeared on CBS Sportsline, The Dallas Morning News and many other outlets.

“Coach Switzer was one of college football’s all-time great motivators. His ability to fire up players is legendary. His ability to lead and motivate college and professional athletes has resulted in three NCAA national championships, a Super Bowl championship and a place in the College Football Hall of Fame. Tonight we honor him for work he’s done that is every bit as impressive, if less publicized. We honor him for inspiring thousands of athletes participating in the Special Olympics in Oklahoma throughout the years. His tireless work as made the Special Olympics in Oklahoma an extraordinarily special event for thousands of special athletes and their families,” said former Oklahoma Gov. David Walters, a member of the Knights of Columbus and the evening's emcee. 

“Barry Switzer is one of the most generous men that I have ever met.  After so many extraordinary life accomplishments, his reaching out to help the disabled and disadvantaged is inspirational,” Walters continued.

The Knights of Columbus and the Special Olympics have been connected from the beginning. John F. Kennedy, America’s first and only Catholic president, was a member of the Knights of Columbus. After his death, his sister, Eunice, and her husband, Sargent Shriver, founded the Special Olympics in 1968 as a tribute to their slain brother and their mentally disabled sister, Rosemary.  

The Knights of Columbus is the largest Catholic lay organization in the world with 1.7 million members. Through the years, the Knights of Columbus has given more than $40 million and countless volunteer hours to the Special Olympics. 

The dinner benefited the Santa Fe Family Life Center in Oklahoma City, which is owned by the Knights of Columbus. The facility is open to the public and serves many diverse groups. 

JFK Service Awards

The Oklahoma Council Knights of Columbus held its annual John F. Kennedy Community Service Awards Dinner on Tuesday, honoring former University of Oklahoma and Dallas Cowboy football coach Barry Switzer for his work with the Oklahoma Special Olympics.

Here's a video from last year's awards, honoring Drew Edmondson and the late Jack Mildren...

Obama Criticism Misses the Point

The following editorial by Gov. David Walters appeared in the July 4 edition of The Daily Oklahoman.

I find the Republican criticism of President Obama's commentary regarding Iran to be skipping over a critical point.  

Iran finds itself in the middle of an internal revolution, just five months after President Obama assumed office, several weeks after signaling a new approach to dealing with Iran and about 20 days after his Cairo speech. 

Anyone who listened to or read the speech cannot possibly come to the conclusion that President Obama is timid. 

If you have any semblance of an open mind, read the Cairo speech. This single statement of reason and honest review of the centuries-old conflicts in South Asia and the Middle East has given rise in the region to new hope for an end to these mindless conflicts. It’s spawned optimism that lives in these desperately poor countries can begin to focus on improvement rather than destruction. 

This eloquent change of tone – vastly different to the counterproductive tough guy talk of the past eight years – is sparking a revolution of freethinking citizens who are sick and tired of being represented by the likes of the Iranian leaders.  

As one Iranian businessman told me recently, when it became apparent that the U.S. was not an immediate threat, the citizens in Iran had the luxury of turning inwards to address their countries problems and poor leadership.  

I thank God everyday that the US has a bold and courageous and smart leader.

Defending Our President

The Red Dirt Blog presents a new companion feature, "Defending Our President," where Gov. Walters responds to letters he receives regarding the policies of the current administration. A link to the new site is on the left or click here.

Perspective on US Energy Policy

David Walters recently joined a conversation with Timothy Wirth, Chairman of the Energy Futures Coalition, President of the United Nations Foundation and former United States Senator from Colorado, on U.S. energy policy. Wirth was recently honored as a Champion of the Earth by the United Nations Environment Program and is well-known for his work in regard to children's health, the environment, women and population, peace, security and human rights. 

Dear Senator Wirth:

Thank you for calling and discussing my perspective on energy policy particularly as it relates to the accelerated use of natural gas in electric generation. 

1. Accepting Robert Hefner's long-held view and now the conventional wisdom that we have an abundant supply of clean burning natural gas, we should find ways to use this supply to supplant less-attractive fuels, such as coal used for electrical generation.  

2. The utilities are the primary impediments. Unless forced by significant penalties and portfolio requirements, they will not move to utilize cleaner more efficient fuels and generation processes. Generally, the expertise of their mid-level management is not conducive to innovative or new approaches unless all other options are removed. The bureaucracy of most utilities rival that of government, where the politics of rocking the boat and the consequences of taking risks have effectively eliminated any voluntary motivation to be innovative or progressive.

3. Utilities have most often used the regional transmission systems to stifle competition, primarily by imposing unrealistic lead times on the approval of transmission contracts - effectively eliminating the ability of efficient merchant markets to get their product to the market.

4. A tragic example of this Soprano-like dominance is the Oneta Power Center, constructed outside of Tulsa.  Oneta has 1100 MW of the most-efficient natural gas-fired combined-cycle technology and it is dispatched at only 15 percent.  Built by Calpine for approximately $800M the plant is not worth $300M, given its current status as a stranded IPP.

The utilities, by restricting its ability to export power to willing customers through their monopolistic control of the South West Power Pool, have successfully bankrupted this facility. A sister plant similar to Oneta outside of OKC was similarly isolated and recently purchased for a deep discount by the local utility. And then only after losing a bruising battle to build a ridiculously expensive coal plant (Oklahoma has no coal reserves, but loads of natural gas). Meanwhile Oklahoma has approximately 50 percent of its capacity fueled by coal and 70 percent of its total generation fired by coal.

As Bill Clinton said at the Clean Air Conference, until we decouple generation from transmission from distribution, we will have these problems.  Many countries have done this but in the U.S. the grip on public policy by non-progressive utilities has been impressive and effective.

Some other thoughts for corrective action:

1. Federal regulation could very quickly change the makeup of the boards of the South West Power Pool and other regional transmission systems that are currently run more like the Bada Bing Club than a public interest agency. These boards should have strong representation by independent power producers, independent transmission companies (very few of these) and smart non-utility folks who can change the policies previously tailored to favor utilities.

2. Federal regulation or extremely lucrative state incentives (from stimulus funding?) should require utilities to move to a true least-cost dispatch model. I say true because while many will claim to do so. it is least cost for their units - so it is OK to run a 14,000 BTU/kWh belching coal generation plant in Oklahoma and leave a 7,200 BTU/kWh natural gas combined cycle power plant shut in. Or it is least cost ignoring the true cost of fuel. With carbon and emissions cost rising a true least cost dispatch model, which even the most primitive of developing nations have (Ecuador's would be fine! Nicaragua's is more sophisticated than that used by most utilities).

3. Converting peaker natural gas plants to base load plants requires a wide commercialization of the newly revitalized Cheng technology in modifying gas turbines to achieve near combined cycle efficiencies in simple cycle and incentives to drive more of these peakers to combined cycle status. We (Hefner/Walters via GETGEN) hope soon to also be able to present and discuss a CCS technology that will economically make natural gas plants nearly as clean as solar and wind projects.

4. Mandated portfolio requirements will do wonders. California is a beehive of activity as the utilities face a stringent state mandate and penalties. The state is awash in biomass, biomass gasifiers, forest wastes, dairy wastes, solar and wind projects, to name a few.  

I can get $110/MWH for renewable energy in California (portfolio requirements) and only $30 in my home state of Oklahoma (no portfolio requirements). Of course nothing is happening in Oklahoma on renewable energy. A state with massive wind resources has yet to break 1000 MW of wind capacity. It is clear that economic vitality and progress is not correlated to higher electricity charges (i.e. Oklahoma v. California). But this false claim that coal is cheaper or we cannot afford to pay an economic price for renewable is a common utility refrain.

5. There are exciting technologies that can economically remove all CO2 from flue gases of power facilities. There are equally exciting technologies that can vastly improve the simple cycle performance of a large number of current natural gas peakers (simple cycle turbines) so that their efficiency approaches that of combined cycle performance and therefore begins to cut into the dominance of coal for baseload power production. The DOE should encourage the use of stimulus funding to immediately fund dozens of demonstrations of these technologies and encourage the licensing of the technology to broaden its application.

I realize the above statements sound radical, but few people in this industry have the flexibility to speak about the utilities, as most are very dependent on them for their livelihood, political or charitable support. But this silence of those aware of what is going on and the (I believe overstated) influence of the utilities doesn't justify their ruthless domination, particularly in the South West Power Pool, of their competition. This should be the subject of a congressional investigation. After Wall Street, this is the next giant, overlooked and poorly regulated mess that is restraining and damaging our country.

Thank you Senator for asking for my thoughts and for continuing your great work in this arena.  

All the best.

David Walters

New Power Plants in Pakistan

I welcomed my friend and business partner Iqbal Z. Ahmed to Oklahoma on Tuesday. Iqbal is the founding chairman of one of Pakistan’s largest energy businesses, Associated Group, and a partner in Pakistan Power Resources. He was at the Oklahoma State Capitol to announce nearly $100 million in contracts to Oklahoma-based businesses for the engineering, procurement, and construction of two new power plants in Pakistan. 

Iqbal announced that Tulsa-based ProEnergy EPC Services would be awarded the engineering, procurement, and construction of two power plants in Pakistan. Engineering on the project will be subcontracted to EDG Engineers in Tulsa. In addition, a number of the components for these power plants will be manufactured in Tulsa.

“ProEnergy Services is a leader in the power industry and we are looking forward to our partnership with this company and several other Oklahoma-based companies in the development of these much-needed power plants in Pakistan,” Iqbal told those in attendance. “These plants must go online quickly, providing electricity to areas of my country that are currently dramatically underserved.  I am impressed with the get it done attitude of these Oklahoma companies and their ability to provide the high-quality expertise the project requires in the timeframe it needs.”

Lt. Gov. Jari Askins welcomed Ahmed to Oklahoma and thanked him for the business partnership between Oklahoma and Pakistan businesses, as well as for his efforts to increase peace and stability in Pakistan and the region.

In addition to developing power plants to bring electricity to areas of Pakistan that have been underserved or without, Ahmed was instrumental in brokering a truce between then-President Pervez Musharaff and former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Ahmed is a vocal supporter of President Barack Obama’s proposal to shift the priority for U.S. aid to a greater emphasis on economic and social programs while providing needed support to the Pakistan military. 

“I support President Obama’s proposal and believe that America’s more direct support for better health care, education and more jobs by funding the construction of hospitals, schools, and roads and bridges - will send a message to Pakistan’s current and next generation and their political leaders that Pakistan and America are partners in the long-term,” he said.  “We have to give the political leaders in Pakistan the support they need in order to make the hard choices that will stabilize our democracy.”

Lt. Gov. Askins also presented him with a proclamation from Gov. Henry declaring it Iqbal Z. Ahmed Day in Oklahoma. Thanks to both Lt. Gov. Askins and Gov. Henry for their efforts to honor Iqbal and draw attention to the international scope of Oklahoma’s energy and energy-related businesses.

Iqbal made a special stop in Oklahoma for the announcement on his way to New York City and Washington, D.C., where he is attending a number of business and diplomatic meetings. 

Local and national media covered the announcement. Here's a link to the story by Business Reporter Randy Ellis in The Daily Oklahoman.