Pickens introduces "The Plan" to kick the US oil habit
Forget the Department of Energy's 2030 plan. Billionaire oilman T. Boone Pickens says that we can accomplish 20% wind power in a matter of 10 years. It's a good thing too, because according to him, the US is on a collision course with financial ruin. The "Pickens Plan" is the tycoon's blueprint for saving the US from its addiction to foreign oil. According to Pickens, the US is "the Saudi Arabia of wind power," and we need to aggressively focus US energy production on our vast wind and natural gas resources in order to transition into a more sustainable energy mix.
Video after the jump.
According to Pickens, Americans are paying $700B a year for foreign oil. If this continues for 10 years, it will be the greatest transfer of wealth in human history. If you have any doubt about the amount of wealth shifting overseas, check out this indoor ski resort in Dubai.
His proposal includes stepping up wind power capacity to over 20% by the end of 2018. Thus, freeing up our natural gas supplies to be used as an alternative to gasoline and diesel fuel. This way, not only will energy be cleaner, but the money will also be spent domestically.
By switching to natural gas as a driving fuel, Pickens estimates that we can keep $300B per year in the US economy. Consequently, natural gas releases 30% fewer emissions than regular gas -- so there's a strong environmental argument built in. With his new website and media blitz, it seems that Mr. Pickens is determined to influence this year's elections, and even more so, the energy policy of the incoming President.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-09-2008 @ 7:59PM
Ben Brown said...
Wind is the fastest resource to get on-line, once we get transmission concerns addressed. We have to move BEFORE the need arises, which is something that has only occurred in mankind's history only a few times on this scale. We CAN DO IT!!! (and join, but not depend on corporate America.)
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7-12-2008 @ 4:52PM
Al Schrader said...
I have technology in my garage laboratory that is more advanced than this, and worth more billions.
Al
alfredschrader@aol.com
Reply
9-14-2008 @ 2:18PM
Lowell Michalove said...
America Wastes over 70% of the Energy it Consumes !
The Energy Waste is Everywhere !
(1) We consistently over heat and over cool our homes, businesses,
offices, schools, churches, etc...
(2) 100's of millions of lights are on unnecessary every day and every night.
(3) Landfills are busier than ever. Over packaging with plastics is
the norm. Recycling is optional and thereby inadequate.
(4) Most Americans do not minimize their driving. Therefore,
congestion on roads is horrendous.
(5) Road construction is the ultimate contradiction!
Until the price of gas is $7 to $8 per gallon, Americans will not
significantly reduce their waste and over demand for energy.
The economic impact of taxing energy is the way to eliminate energy
waste and over demand. Only with a tangible dollar reward /
consequence will America care and act to conserve. Crude oil must be
taxed at $200 per barrel (55 gal) and 'offset' by making Federal
Income Tax begin at $70k. High energy costs are also the incentive by
which sustainable energy supplies will be developed. In the mean time,
the USA continues its incredible energy waste and gives away its
economic and political wealth to the Islamic Middle East via OPEC.
Know that the Islamic dominated OPEC cartel is glad to allow supply
and demand market forces to drive energy prices to $8/gallon. Our
hedonist energy waste empowers the Islamics who desires our demise.
China, India, and other 'developing countries' have only begun to
compete for the world's remaining fossil fuels. Unless global demand
for fossil energy is dramatically reduced, world war is inevitable
(future geopolitical unrest will be directly related to global
competition for energy and natural resources).
Ford and General Motors are headed for bankruptcy, which will leave
100,000,000 Americans unemployed, ruin our economy, and lead to
anarchy. America can no longer continue to 'do business as usual'.
Ford and GM must quickly transition to the lucrative business of
building solar and wind 'energy producers' for the world's 6.7 BILLION
people reason$. The world cannot continue to support all the
automakers. We are running out of petroleum !
Mass transit must reward those who reduce their driving and thereby
become FREE, SAFE, CLEAN, and CONVENIENT.
The incentive necessary to create renewable and sustainable energy
supply can ONLY occur when we implement the economics of TAXING ENERGY
in lieu of income taxes.
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