Prior to 2010 I received many invitations to Energy Conferences. One was to the Copenhagen 15 session hosted by Forbes and Shell Oil. The other day I was meeting with some colleagues and I recalled the Energy Conference event with Shell Oil at Post University in New York so many years ago.
I arrived early and this afforded me the time to meet some of the speakers on the panel before the event started. While the rest of the arriving audience, all of us in business attire, went directly over to the morning setup of bagels and coffee, I waited to speak with the Vice President from Exxon. However, he was more interested in getting "back-stage" and away from everyone than doing any networking. His arrogant attitude prevailed and he didn't "need" to network with anyone at this event. Thus, our exchange or conversation, if you can call it that, was insignificant.
The panel spoke up to 10:45am with the VP from Exxon speaking last. While there was an advocate for electric cars on the panel, this VP from Exxon shot him down immediately when he spoke last just before our scheduled time for a break. The VP set himself up for a "drop-the-mike" ending by ending with the following line:
"You cannot pour technology into a gas tank to run a car!" Everyone laughed. I didn't.
The MC then made the mistake to say, "Before we take our morning break, are there any questions for our distinguished members of the energy panel?"
My right arm and hand went straight up and I started to wave. I could not be ignored and I was acknowledged.
"Thank you," I replied. "My question is for Exxon's vice president... Can we not eliminate the pouring by applying the technology of clean hydrogen fuel cells operating on demand as we drive after collected FREE rain water that was put into a vehicle's water tank? And as needed, the membrane component of the fuel cell on the car, will separate the two hydrogen molecules from the one oxygen molecule. Therefore eliminating any need to get hydrogen molecules from natural gas or gasoline. This hydrogen separation procedure would be done with FREE electric power created from the Sun with solar cells embedded in the roof and hood of the car. The FREE hydrogen will run the fuel cell that makes FREE electricity to power the our cars as needed, so we do not have any storage to cause any type of Hindenburg explosions. And the byproduct is water condensation."
Everyone had turned in their seats to look back at me, many with their mouths hanging open. This did not go unnoticed by Exxon's VP. He first stared, then chuckled, followed by a quick, "That technology doesn't exist and probably will never exist."
"Oh, then how are we able to use that technology on our Space Shuttles since 1981, where three hydrogen fuel cells are onboard. One to provide all the electric power the space shuttle needs and two for back-ups?"
The mike dropped, but I was the one to do the dropping. The room went silent. Then the MC grabbed his microphone and quickly said, "We are short on time, so let us all take that coffee break now... Thank you." Over two dozen hands went up, everyone else started talking. "Coffee and danish cakes are available in the other room to your left," continued the MC as the panel of speakers exited the room. Leading the way was the Exxon VP. "Thank you, please be back here at 11:00. Thank you."
After collecting my note pad, I was one of the last to enter the break room. Immediately I was surrounded by ten or more people. The conversation about hydrogen fuel cells abound. After three minutes or so, the group of people around me grew in size. Then from a back door a short man wearing an expensive suit and shoes entered the room. He wore a navy blue suit and a bowtie, he had a smile bigger than he stood tall. He was a phony, he was a mole. I say mole, because as I spoke I saw him walk around the room and listened to every conversation going on in the other 5 or so circles or clicks that formed. When he arrived at my circle last, he heard fuel cells and moved into the circle! He didn't walk away like I notice him do with all the other groups of people talking.
As soon as he had the opportunity to jump my spoken words, he did with... "All this you are talking about is not real, don't listen to this." He directed to everyone standing around me. "None of this will ever work and you are all wasting your time listening to him."
Immediately I replied, "When you say this technology will never work, or will never happen, isn't that similar to what the Wright brothers heard? Didn't people say we would never walk on the moon? And how is the fact that today this technology is working on our Space Shuttles?"
The mole lost his big smile and said, "You don't know what your are talking about!" He then turned away hoping others would follow. None did, and when he turned back, he saw nobody else walked away, but started asking me more questions.
I addressed what just happened. "That man was a planted mole to influence and listen to our conversations." People were shocked to hear my accusation, but I found myself followed by that planted mole at lunch time and later in the afternoon.
Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
Contribute your comments!
I arrived early and this afforded me the time to meet some of the speakers on the panel before the event started. While the rest of the arriving audience, all of us in business attire, went directly over to the morning setup of bagels and coffee, I waited to speak with the Vice President from Exxon. However, he was more interested in getting "back-stage" and away from everyone than doing any networking. His arrogant attitude prevailed and he didn't "need" to network with anyone at this event. Thus, our exchange or conversation, if you can call it that, was insignificant.
The panel spoke up to 10:45am with the VP from Exxon speaking last. While there was an advocate for electric cars on the panel, this VP from Exxon shot him down immediately when he spoke last just before our scheduled time for a break. The VP set himself up for a "drop-the-mike" ending by ending with the following line:
"You cannot pour technology into a gas tank to run a car!" Everyone laughed. I didn't.
The MC then made the mistake to say, "Before we take our morning break, are there any questions for our distinguished members of the energy panel?"
My right arm and hand went straight up and I started to wave. I could not be ignored and I was acknowledged.
"Thank you," I replied. "My question is for Exxon's vice president... Can we not eliminate the pouring by applying the technology of clean hydrogen fuel cells operating on demand as we drive after collected FREE rain water that was put into a vehicle's water tank? And as needed, the membrane component of the fuel cell on the car, will separate the two hydrogen molecules from the one oxygen molecule. Therefore eliminating any need to get hydrogen molecules from natural gas or gasoline. This hydrogen separation procedure would be done with FREE electric power created from the Sun with solar cells embedded in the roof and hood of the car. The FREE hydrogen will run the fuel cell that makes FREE electricity to power the our cars as needed, so we do not have any storage to cause any type of Hindenburg explosions. And the byproduct is water condensation."
Everyone had turned in their seats to look back at me, many with their mouths hanging open. This did not go unnoticed by Exxon's VP. He first stared, then chuckled, followed by a quick, "That technology doesn't exist and probably will never exist."
"Oh, then how are we able to use that technology on our Space Shuttles since 1981, where three hydrogen fuel cells are onboard. One to provide all the electric power the space shuttle needs and two for back-ups?"
The mike dropped, but I was the one to do the dropping. The room went silent. Then the MC grabbed his microphone and quickly said, "We are short on time, so let us all take that coffee break now... Thank you." Over two dozen hands went up, everyone else started talking. "Coffee and danish cakes are available in the other room to your left," continued the MC as the panel of speakers exited the room. Leading the way was the Exxon VP. "Thank you, please be back here at 11:00. Thank you."
After collecting my note pad, I was one of the last to enter the break room. Immediately I was surrounded by ten or more people. The conversation about hydrogen fuel cells abound. After three minutes or so, the group of people around me grew in size. Then from a back door a short man wearing an expensive suit and shoes entered the room. He wore a navy blue suit and a bowtie, he had a smile bigger than he stood tall. He was a phony, he was a mole. I say mole, because as I spoke I saw him walk around the room and listened to every conversation going on in the other 5 or so circles or clicks that formed. When he arrived at my circle last, he heard fuel cells and moved into the circle! He didn't walk away like I notice him do with all the other groups of people talking.
As soon as he had the opportunity to jump my spoken words, he did with... "All this you are talking about is not real, don't listen to this." He directed to everyone standing around me. "None of this will ever work and you are all wasting your time listening to him."
Immediately I replied, "When you say this technology will never work, or will never happen, isn't that similar to what the Wright brothers heard? Didn't people say we would never walk on the moon? And how is the fact that today this technology is working on our Space Shuttles?"
The mole lost his big smile and said, "You don't know what your are talking about!" He then turned away hoping others would follow. None did, and when he turned back, he saw nobody else walked away, but started asking me more questions.
I addressed what just happened. "That man was a planted mole to influence and listen to our conversations." People were shocked to hear my accusation, but I found myself followed by that planted mole at lunch time and later in the afternoon.
Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
Contribute your comments!
