Mitt Romney wants to lay an oil pipeline over this water supply...

[badtoworse]

45. My background is no secret on DU

I've described it in past posts, but I'll repeat it here. I've spent 30 years in the electric power business, most of it developing natural gas-fired power plants, both domestically and in South America. I've also managed power plant construction and spent 5 years managing three power plants (about 1,000 MW) in the northeast. In recent years, I've done development work with renewable energy, both wind and solar power. My background is diversified and I have a deep understanding of the power business on a lot of levels including operational, commercial, regulatory and environmental. Because the natural gas industry and the electric power business are so intertwined, I have good knowledge of the natural gas business as well, though not so much on the E&P side.

I was going to retire about a year ago, but I got a very good offer from an infrastructure fund that planned to invest in energy infrastructure in North America. They have all the financial types they need, but they also wanted some industry experts on the team - that's me and a few others. The plan is to invest in low carbon generation, mid-stream natural gas and electric transmission. These are all areas in which the country will need many billions in new investment to supply us with clean energy in the future. The great majority of those projects will be funded by private investors. I make no apology for my background. Providing the country with the reliable electric power that is taken for granted is no small task and I'm proud to be part of the industry that does it.

I've actually had no experience in the oil and gas industry, but they too perform a necessary task. We use an enormous amount of primary energy and maintaining a reliable supply is no small task either. I generally support what they do because I like to have gasoline available when I need to fill up the car and I don't mind paying the world price.

No industry has a spotless safety and environmental record and the energy businesses are no exception. Given the magnitude of the task, I think the track record is good. I have worked for three different power companies - safety and environmental stewardship were the highest priorities at all three.

I value the environment as much as anyone on DU. I like to hunt, fish and backpack. I breath the same air and drink the same water you do. Do you really think I want the environment trashed?

Last thing: I see lots of posts on DU trashing the power companies, big oil, private equity and other big businesses, but I never see anything posted that comes even close to being a viable substitute. What are your ideas?