|
Pickens pitches renewables, natural gasSays only way to move beyond foreign oil dependencePeter Marcus, DDN Staff WriterFriday, August 14, 2009 |  | | CEO of BP Capital, T. Boone Pickens speaks at the Project New West Summit in Denver yesterday. Denver Daily News photo by Jesse Dillon. |
Wealthy financier turned energy expert T. Boone Pickens walked to the center of the auditorium stage in the Colorado History Museum yesterday and plopped himself down on a stool.
“Oh, God my butt’s sore,” said the 81-year-old leader of a mass movement to wean the nation off of foreign oil.
At 81 years old, “Boone” still works out every morning — apparently yesterday morning the 65-pound vest he wears when he does squats really caught up to him.
But what hasn’t slowed down Pickens is his passion to end the United States’ growing dependence on foreign oil. Speaking at a summit hosted by Project New West to discuss the West’s direction over the next 10 years, Pickens highlighted aspects of his Pickens Plan — a focus on renewable energy resources and natural gas.
The “Pickens Army” has grown to 1.6 million strong — people seem to latch on to his easy way of explaining complex scenarios.
Yesterday’s focus was on legislation making its way through Congress that would provide incentives to use natural gas as a transportation fuel. Pickens would like to see the nation’s 6.5 million 18-wheelers running completely on natural gas.
“Anything that’s American, I’m for it,” said Pickens.
Last month alone, the United States spent $24 billion on foreign oil, according to the Department of Energy, importing 65 percent of its oil, or 374 million barrels.
For Pickens, the issue is about national security, pointing out that much of the nation’s oil comes from hostile nations.
“But there is an answer to breaking our addiction to foreign, oil and it starts with natural gas,” he said. “Natural gas is cleaner, cheaper and there is enough of it in the U.S. to meet our energy needs for the next 100 years.”
Colorado would benefit from Pickens’ plan, he said. Seven of the nation’s 100 largest natural gas fields are in Colorado, according to the Department of Energy.
He added that the state would also benefit from the second part of his plan — renewables. With wind and solar resources abundant in Colorado, there is plenty of opportunity, which is already starting to take shape in the form of corporations like Denmark-based Vestas setting up wind farms in Colorado.
Pickens believes that within six to seven years, the nation can stop relying on foreign oil, but only if the necessary steps are taken. If steps are not taken, then $300 per barrel for oil will become a reality, he said.
“The opportunities are vast for all of us to capitalize on our own resources,” he said.
| Comments: |
| michael belaj @ 2009-08-14 08:56:08 | I am all for the Pickens plan current price for a btu of oil is 12.00 price for a btu of natural gas is 3.00 foreign nations are making a killing on oil and the usa is going broke we have the natural gas here in the usa in our home land in our dumps methane gas.If Iran ect cant sell their oil the cant build nukes no money no bomb.This would be one of the biggest job creation in our country spending would go through the roof we could pay off our debt and America would stand tall and indeoendent.Lets work with pickens tell youre goverment officials to get it done now |
| Flag this comment as Inappropriate / Spam |
| Chuckamok @ 2009-08-14 17:03:32 | Using natural gas to power our transportation is a no-brainer. Now that the realization that we have virtually unlimited gas resources (thanks to the indies who plugged away at the new drilling techniques, god bless 'em) is gaining acceptance, it's time for Congress to act aggressively. And - surprise, surprise - they seem to have gotten religion. Kowtowing to our enemies - Russia, Venezuela, Iran, Saudi Arabia - has skewed our entire foreign policy and endangered our very existence. Put a Phill in EVERY garage. |
| Flag this comment as Inappropriate / Spam |
| Snow Yogi @ 2009-08-23 12:12:27 | It sounds easy, but carrying enough CNG to power vehicles for long distances isn't feasible. CNG has 25% the volumetric energy density of diesel. The tanks would have to be four times the size they are now on 18-wheelers to have the same range. Not to mention the danger of a catastrophic explosion, either accidental or intentional (terrorism). Diesel doesn't explode like natural gas. I believe algae based liquid fuels are the future and the sooner we build the infrastructure to produce our own fuels the better. We make millions of gallons of beer each year. Why not algae fuels? |
| Flag this comment as Inappropriate / Spam |
| acai diet supplement @ 2010-05-08 21:29:43 | Incident Income,parent charge disappear tool transfer purpose reflect currently region combine attitude though winter solicitor somewhat possibility weight standard link claim nature drink cry air amongst strike truth league call shape requirement contract director top save clearly together only then always space always park pleasure sometimes publish terms disease top table current wonderful index decision dangerous disease chemical shall slightly management task concentration battle teach normally possible sample tomorrow demonstrate manage gun leg appearance evidence realize league ago failure bad blue until interest hit themselves late ball commission he still author manner buy dangerous potential |
| Flag this comment as Inappropriate / Spam |
|
 |
|
