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November 20, 2009

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Oilman says renewable energy the only hope

By Phoebe Sweet (contact)

Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2008 | 11:17 a.m.

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Beyond the Sun

T. Boone Pickens compared America to a boat with no oars headed toward Niagara Falls today, referring to the nation's energy crisis, during the National Clean Energy Summit at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Pickens was in Las Vegas to explain his "Pickens Plan" to reduce reliance on foreign oil by building wind turbines in Texas. Those turbines would replace energy now produced by natural gas, which could then be used in the trucks that ship goods around the country.

Pickens said 70 percent of people polled support the plan, which would reduce reliance on foreign oil by almost 40 percent, but that 65 percent of people polled thought congressional inaction would keep the plan from every becoming policy.

The plan could offset America's oil imports from the troubled Middle East and African nations.

Pickens also said he will spend $58 million advertising the plan this year, in an effort to "elevate" debate during this fall's presidential election. Pickens said he's staying non-partisan during this election, but has met with both Barack Obama and John McCain and challenged them to come out with plans to reduce oil imports by 30 percent within 10 years if they are elected. He said he wants those plans in place within the new president's first 100 days in office.

Discussion: 15 comments so far…

  1. By neiman1
    8/19/08 at 11:43 a.m.
    Suggest removal

    Why do you always leave out the part where he says get all the American energy we can. He advocates drilling, nuclear, coal, solar, wind, and gas. Picking the quotes make him look like renewable is the only answer. Meanwhile we will continue to burn our food in our gas tanks because the Democrats love ethanol. We pay for it every time we go to the grocery store.

  2. By avatar
    8/19/08 at 12:09 p.m.
    Suggest removal

    http://www.solazyme.com/news080122.shtml...

    Watch the video! Mr. T Bone Pickens is correct in his assessment of America's energy situation. He plans to profit from his plan but so what, at least he has a plan!

    I believe algae to diesel could provide millions of gallons of high quality, carbon neutral diesel fuels. We will need liquid truck and jet fuel for years to come. This country needs to invest in this technology and prove it can work! Why do we think oil will always be available? How do we move heavy loads without diesel? Has anyone ever thought of the consequences of no diesel? The Geico caveman commercials take on a whole new meaning.

    Go T-bone! Get the US to change to renewables! If not now, when?

  3. By jfnance32
    8/19/08 at 12:13 p.m.
    Suggest removal

    The Pickens plan should be called, "The Grand Natural Gas" plan.

    He has a ton of money in natural gas.

    Even his wind mill plan is all about natural gas.

    I would be more of a believer if he demostrated a plan where he and his family will not profit one cent from his plan.

    Of course, a key part of his plan is new offshore drilling for........natural gas.

    And yes, he is in favor of all energy sources like nuclear and coal.

    His wind mill plan has a lot of flaws in it, too.

    I am favor diversification of our energy system.

    McCain wants solar, wind, coal, natural gas, oil, nuclear and geo-thermal and whatever...

    I want to do a plant that is smart and cost effective.
    Picken's plan will cost most likely over a trillion dollars to do.

  4. By gqbossing
    8/19/08 at 12:25 p.m.
    Suggest removal

    Facts:
    -Pickens stands to make billions from his plan, with him owning natural gas deposits and his energy company producing wind farms
    -Pickens supported Bush, campaigned against Kerry, and recently supported Guilliani

    Opinion:
    Even though his plan will make him much wealthier, it will help to improve our domestic energy situation, I am all for wind power if not on natural gas.

    He really needs to stay out of politics as he's shown over time he's not very good at supporting the right candidate. Lobbying is his answer...

  5. By avatar
    8/19/08 at 12:27 p.m.
    Suggest removal

    Jfnance

    Someone will make a profit on renewables or they won't come to market. I totally agree with McCain's idea of energy diversification. Putting all of our energy eggs into one basket (oil) is insane!

    We should be developing solar, wind, nuclear, algae, biofuels, geothermal, and conservation at the same time! Like they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

  6. By odeman
    8/19/08 at 12:35 p.m.
    Suggest removal

    Pickens is all about Pickens. Although he is pushing an admirable cause, it is just PR to get richer. Just like so many of his ilk, it's all about having the most money even though he has more than he can possibly spend. Maybe we should ask the people who he put on the unemployment line when he ruined companies to line his pocket in his days as a corporate raider about what a great guy he is.

  7. By jacqueline
    8/19/08 at 1:11 p.m.
    Suggest removal

    I'm uncomfortable getting my energy policy from the exact same guy who funded the Swiftboat ads against Kerry.

  8. By firedawg2000
    8/19/08 at 3:31 p.m.
    Suggest removal

    Anybody wonder why Pelosi wants to block a vote on off shore drilling?
    http://www.dcexaminer.com/opinion/Editor...

  9. By firedawg2000
    8/19/08 at 3:34 p.m.
    Suggest removal

    Watch the 1 minute clip and you decide.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oN6nciNgX...

  10. By jfnance32
    8/19/08 at 7:39 p.m.
    Suggest removal

    Obama likes Pickens or Obama could just be doing a dance to get votes.

    I see a lot of lib dems hate him.

    So Pickens probably is a good guy.

    I might change my mind about him.

  11. By fireemt799
    8/19/08 at 9:17 p.m.
    Suggest removal

    Nevada would be great for renewable energy especially solar. put some up here in lincoln county in delamar and lake valleys and put them up in white pine and since solar will need water and since energy independence is big now the federal government could reverse S.N.W.A.'s water applications and the nation gets clean renewable energy and the crooks dont steal our water so everyone wins

  12. By KDR81
    8/20/08 at 10:15 a.m.
    Suggest removal

    Renewables only way to make the enviornmentalist movement the single largest wealth transfer from poor to rich in the history of capitalism.

    http://npri.org/publications/the-high-co...

  13. By mschaffer
    8/21/08 at 6:23 a.m.
    Suggest removal

    For those skeptical of KDR81's source of information, please note that the directors for the Nevada Policy Research Institute are all very wealthy:
    http://npri.org/about/board-of-directors...
    This leads me to ask who's interest do they have? "Free market solutions" is just a disguise for self interest over country and that is how we are in the mess we are already.

  14. By Future2012
    8/21/08 at 10:14 a.m.
    Suggest removal

    Reid must be uncomfortable getting his energy policy direction of "anything American, drilling domestic" from Pickens.

    65 percent of people polled thought congressional inaction would keep the plan from every becoming policy.

    Reid and Pelosi will continue to be the major roadblock to acheiving change in Congress.

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