Good evening from Dhaka, Bangladesh

It has been two weeks since I first arrived and what a fantastic experience so far. My primary task as a consultant is to improve communications among electric cooperatives (PBSs) throughout the country. I spent the first week of my trip working in the headquarters office here in Dhaka and adjusting to the many changes. The second week I spent on the road and in rural areas outside of Rangpur, in the northern part of the country.

The people of Bangladesh are incredible and the majority struggle on a daily basis. A densely populated country, approximately the size of the state of Iowa, with nearly 160 million people, this country has great human capacity potential. I hope to blog more regularly now that I’ve started to settle into my daily routine and look forward to hearing from all of you.

If you have questions, please ask. If you have comments, please leave them. I look forward to sharing stories of the people, their culture, and hopefully many successes.

Until tomorrow…      -bag

Recent Comments on the Electric Vehicle Revolution

This blog is a response to the following question posed by Lloyd S. Foight on LinkedIn: Will the Electric Vehicle Revolution really happen now, with the advent of the Chevrolet VOLT in 2010?

My response:

The industry is primed for a dynamic shift. Short-term hurdles in energy regulation could give the green light for other manufacturers to swiftly enter the market. Softening sediment on nuclear power could provide national infrastructure improvements for clean and affordable power, while a distributed battery storage system has the potential to advance smart-grid initiatives.

The reality, though, is that markets are fickle and change is slow; if the benefits don’t have immediate payback, the VOLT might become a car collector’s prize. For now, I’ll lease mine!

Your thoughts?

Until tomorrow…     -bag

Bangladesh

Today was a big day for me and I’m excited to announce that I will be blogging from Dhaka, Bangladesh in the very near future. As a part of the NRECA International Program I will be assisting with a rural electrification project for a year or so. I will be working as a communications consultant and will be traveling in segments of close to a month at a time. I will also continue to serve in my current position at URE by working remotely and at our office when I am in the United States.

 

Dhaka is 11 hours ahead of my home eastern standard time, so please be patient with my DailyBAG posts being slightly ahead or behind normal. I do think that I’ll be posting some unique and exciting comments based on this experience… stay tuned.

 

In the meantime please wish me luck; I’ve got a busy schedule preparing for this opportunity.

 

Until tomorrow…     -bag

The Gambler

Earlier this week, billionaire Warren Buffet made the biggest bet in his acclaimed career: a $44 billion wager on Burlington Northern Santa Fe, a railroad company. Many have rendered an opinion on his unique bid of an antiquated business, so I too will share my thoughts — you nailed it again, Mr. Buffet!

For the past 10 years I’ve preached, but only to a handful of close friends, that I’d love to own a railroad. Having visited Europe and witnessed firsthand the potential of an efficient, well-run railroad system, we’re missing the boat (or in this case the railcar) here in the United States. Notorious for his ability to snatch up deals and put mass amounts of capital to the test, I’m a thrilled share holder. My only regret is that I haven’t accumulated enough B shares to “upgrade” to an A class share. I wish I had prior to the upcoming 50-1 split.

Nonetheless, I’m anxious to see the future of railroads in the United States. The engineer running this locomotive is first class and I look forward to following my small Berkshire railcar from Fort Worth to Omaha.

Until tomorrow…     -bag

If Henry Hadn’t

I can’t help but ponder the idea, “what if Henry Ford hadn’t perfected the assembly line?” There are currently more discussions than I can ever remember around energy, foreign oil dependence, green power, and the electric car. Looking back on history, Henry Ford had an amazing impact on more than an efficient assembly line process; the results of his success impact a vast infrastructure we have in the United States.

When Henry Ford was able to provide affordable automobiles for the common man, it was a tipping point for combustion engine vehicles to dominate the market place. Other technologies existed at the time, including electric cars, but they were shuffled to the side. It is hard to say what would have happened if Henry Ford had failed. Someone else would have perfected the assembly line and there might be a lot more antique blue cars, but who knows if we would be guzzling oil by the barrel or fretting over where to get the next kilowatt for our car.

It makes me contemplate the pivotal points in the past that shaped our today and it makes me reflect on the decisions being made today and how it will affect generations to come. Sir Isaac Newton’s Third Law states, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Current day society translates this physical law into a social law with the modification that for every action there is an opposite and compounding chain reaction.

 Until tomorrow…     -bag

Energy Policy – A Hidden Tax

Working for a distribution electric and gas utility, energy policy is near and dear to my heart. For those of you that haven’t heard, an energy policy bill has already passed the U.S. House and is now in the U.S. Senate. The version that has passed the House contains Cap and Trade language that will have a significant impact on the rates customers pay for energy; especially those of us that consume power generated at a coal burning power plant. That would be many of us living in the Midwestern states.

Some form of energy policy is inevitable; however, the legislation that is being discussed now concerns me because the revenue related to the Cap and Trade is really nothing more than a tax that can be used to fund other government programs. Wouldn’t you think if there was really concern over global warming that all of those billions of dollars raised would be allocated to projects like carbon sequestration and other technologies that fuel our economy towards less emissions and more jobs?

If you’re concerned about this subject I urge you to contact your elected officials, they will listen. For those of you not as comfortable picking up the phone or drafting a letter on your own, I’d recommend going to www.ourenergy.coop, which will guide you through the process and put you in touch with the correct members of Congress. Join the conversation.

Until tomorrow…     -bag