Texas oilman T Boone Pickens wants to supplant oil with wind

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Wednesday, August 20, 2008 1:31:29 PM

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Texas oilman T Boone Pickens wants to supplant oil with wind Tuesday, July 08, 2008
USA Today -- SWEETWATER, Texas — Get ready, America, T. Boone Pickens is coming to your living room. The legendary Texas oilman, corporate raider, shareholder-rights crusader, philanthropist and deep-pocketed moneyman for conservative politicians and causes, wants to drive the USA's political and economic agenda. "We're paying $700 billion a year for foreign oil. It's breaking us as a nation, and I want to elevate that question to the presidential debate, to make it the No. 1 issue of the campaign this year," Pickens says.
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JT Moderator	Message Posted: 7/8/2008 10:41:24 AM	Ignore JT Report Abuse
	Tuesday, July 08, 2008 USA Today -- SWEETWATER, Texas — Get ready, America, T. Boone Pickens is coming to your living room. The legendary Texas oilman, corporate raider, shareholder-rights crusader, philanthropist and deep-pocketed moneyman for conservative politicians and causes, wants to drive the USA's political and economic agenda. "We're paying $700 billion a year for foreign oil. It's breaking us as a nation, and I want to elevate that question to the presidential debate, to make it the No. 1 issue of the campaign this year," Pickens says. Visit USA Today for full article

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NinaGA Sophomore Author Atlanta Posts:158 Points:31,210 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: 7/10/2008 12:54:39 AM	Ignore NinaGA Report Abuse
	We have to invest in alternatives.
Gee_NY Sophomore Author Texas Posts:125 Points:186,270 Joined:Dec 2007	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 11:57:38 PM	Ignore Gee_NY Report Abuse
	Dito "EnderNY" and who cares what his motives are.
EnderNY Champion Author Dallas Posts:1,507 Points:291,955 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 11:43:39 PM	Ignore EnderNY Report Abuse
	about time
NickHammer Champion Author Maryland Posts:5,089 Points:890,600 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 5:47:49 PM	Ignore NickHammer Report Abuse
	Nice job, Celtic14, of blaming liberals for fighting a wind farm in Nantucket Sound, then linking to an article saying that the Republican gov. of Massachusetts is against the wind farm (and, BTW, the amendement that gave him veto power to kill the project was inserted by none other than Republican Ted Stevens). I guess you'd rather play the name-calling and blame game (and do it rather poorly at that) than offer anything the least bit useful.
niceguytx Champion Author Houston Posts:5,231 Points:1,014,795 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 2:44:52 PM	Ignore niceguytx Report Abuse
	He also has selfish interests, as he owns a lot of wind energy and water rights.
cucamping Champion Author Omaha Posts:3,263 Points:721,465 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 1:53:20 PM	Ignore cucamping Report Abuse
	good for him, now get the rest of the country on board.
CruisinLinda Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:4,238 Points:863,385 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 12:55:35 PM	Ignore CruisinLinda Report Abuse
	With 3,000 wind turbines making 6,000 megawtts of electricity between Odessa and Midland, Texas, there is more energy above the ground than below, and it is renewable and limitless, and clean and carbonless. With the electric grid, the power they produce can be distributed. Congratulations to T. Boone for finding nonpartisan, useful things to do with his money other than create dissension. Now if we could get him interested in solar power, Texas gets a lot of sunlight with few clouds in arid areas. And in water currents moving turbines, too, to create electricity. [Edited by: CruisinLinda at 7/9/2008 12:59:29 PM EST]
sluggopyle Champion Author North Carolina Posts:5,657 Points:567,700 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 11:15:50 AM	Ignore sluggopyle Report Abuse
	Interesting that a 900-year-old technology, when promoted by the environmental movement as alternative energy 20-30 years ago was dismissed as wacko treehugger hippie crap, but when a famous rightwing activist gets on board, the national media falls all over itself to fawn. In the interim the wacko treehugger hippies have found some downsides that might dictate some moderation in where this can be done, which the article didn't seem to mention. Good for him for bringing a spotlight on alternative energy in general though. Whatever works. Some of the same areas mentioned here (Plains, Southwest) could also be ideal spots for solar farms as proposed by Scientific American. They seem to have it all planned out; the only thing they need is some bombastic conservative gadfly to do an splash event so the media can feel "safe" enough to cover it.
esquared Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:1,100 Points:568,550 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 11:03:28 AM	Ignore esquared Report Abuse
	Heard him on NPR yesterday. He's none too kind in his assessment of the two oilmen who have occupied the White House for the last 7.5 years. Pickens is canny enough to enlist the Sierra Club in his wind power initiative -- maybe he's got enough clout to get the attention of us consumers as well!
greywolves All-Star Author Las Vegas Posts:726 Points:846,475 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 10:57:34 AM	Ignore greywolves Report Abuse
	pickens has positioned his mesa energy group with holding in the texas panhandle for a multi billion dollar investment in wind and solar. in the next few weeks he will spend millions of his own money on a perot style patriotic political advertizing campaign to fucus public opinion on a long term energy policy which coincidentally will include long term subsidies for wind and solar from which mesa will greatly benefit.
Rageagainsttm Champion Author Tampa Posts:1,453 Points:342,045 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 10:55:22 AM	Ignore Rageagainsttm Report Abuse
	dont blow it
rbrowdersr Veteran Author Detroit Posts:499 Points:380,080 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 10:53:46 AM	Ignore rbrowdersr Report Abuse
	It'll be to his benefit.
domer2 Veteran Author Gary Posts:417 Points:288,975 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 10:49:29 AM	Ignore domer2 Report Abuse
	he has enough wind himself to power 3 states
ramshot412 Champion Author Riverside Posts:11,198 Points:1,122,800 Joined:Apr 2004	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 10:47:34 AM	Ignore ramshot412 Report Abuse
	We need more of this.
letmathe Champion Author Chicago Posts:6,539 Points:1,617,410 Joined:May 2001	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 10:45:00 AM	Ignore letmathe Report Abuse
	Alternatives are crucial.
ardmoretoday Veteran Author Oklahoma Posts:415 Points:366,905 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 10:41:02 AM	Ignore ardmoretoday Report Abuse
	No matter how much wind T Boone may have it is a good idea. Maybe a little late but good. I live about 15 miles from where the blades for these gigantic wind generators are made - there are at least 6 trucks going down I-35 each day - 12 enormous blades. That is 4 generators each day. When his wind farm is complete it will be the largest in the world and the fuel - Absolutely Free.
cudatim All-Star Author San Antonio Posts:570 Points:312,885 Joined:Jan 2007	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 10:37:11 AM	Ignore cudatim Report Abuse
	What ever would work won't be worth anything unless we get started on it now. All talk and no action makes the gas pumps go up.
MitchelSdReview Veteran Author South Dakota Posts:383 Points:71,605 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 10:36:47 AM	Ignore MitchelSdReview Report Abuse
	We neeed to not only drill we need to also look at alternative sources of power. We must do both.
cantonbill Veteran Author Atlanta Posts:315 Points:92,825 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 10:34:26 AM	Ignore cantonbill Report Abuse
	Free market works sometimes! We've needed conservation and alternative energy for years, but have ignored the building problem while prices have been low. The high prices, while they really do s*ck, at least are getting people to think about the future.
celtic14 All-Star Author Florida Posts:717 Points:632,325 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 10:31:59 AM	Ignore celtic14 Report Abuse
	sailormon wrote: "I think the NIMBY attitude will go away once people have to pay double for electricity!! They will beg to have one in their back yard!" Exactly. Like those liberal hypocrites (pardon the redundancy) in Mass. fighting the planned windmills around Nantucket. Better yet, shut off their electricity altogether and watch them really beg! Then post the begging videos on YouTube!
Egor Champion Author Regina Posts:1,001 Points:506,115 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 10:28:26 AM	Ignore Egor Report Abuse
	If you are going to make lots of Electricity, then why not get off the Natural Gas kick and step it up a notch to Hydrogen. If you do that, then you will have something. It's gonna take a while to get there though.
sluggopyle Champion Author North Carolina Posts:5,657 Points:567,700 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 10:28:05 AM	Ignore sluggopyle Report Abuse
	If there's one thing T-Boone has in abundance, it's wind. ("legendary"? did he write the article himself?)
bkstecklein Rookie Author Tulsa Posts:34 Points:428,755 Joined:Sep 2004	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 10:27:24 AM	Ignore bkstecklein Report Abuse
	I don't like the man and believe he is a crook, but in this sense he is right. we have been paying for terrorism for years by buying foreign oil.
sluggopyle Champion Author North Carolina Posts:5,657 Points:567,700 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 10:27:04 AM	Ignore sluggopyle Report Abuse
	If there's one thing T-Boone has in abundance, it's wind.
mcevoy22 Sophomore Author Utah Posts:148 Points:36,420 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 10:27:00 AM	Ignore mcevoy22 Report Abuse
	That is great, but can you find a renewable energy source that we can have on demand. i.e. in the middle of the night, the winds stops blowing, where do we get our energy from? You can't store it, because that is not "green".
tazdriver Champion Author Alabama Posts:1,854 Points:480,550 Joined:Jan 2007	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 10:24:36 AM	Ignore tazdriver Report Abuse
	There are places where it could ease oil consumption.
laddyboy62 Champion Author Riverside Posts:1,120 Points:903,335 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 10:23:43 AM	Ignore laddyboy62 Report Abuse
	boone talks...america listens...been at this game for many yrs
kidmikey37 Veteran Author Nevada Posts:407 Points:109,805 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 10:22:58 AM	Ignore kidmikey37 Report Abuse
	bring it on, don't talk, do
NickHammer Champion Author Maryland Posts:5,089 Points:890,600 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 10:22:11 AM	Ignore NickHammer Report Abuse
	America has so much to offer from a renewable energy standpoint. We have areas that get a lot of wind, deserts for solar power, water for hydroelectric power. While these may only make a dent in our energy needs now, more research and better technology in harnessing this clean energy can make a big difference in the not-too-distant future (as opposed to 2030). If we spent our time, money, and energy (pun intended) on solutions for clean energy that we can produce at home, instead of on name-calling (yes, I'm talking about you, rjb21760), everyone in the country would benefit, from cleaner air to breathe to more money in our pockets. If this ends up making a super-rich guy even richer, so be it.
rbdesigns Veteran Author Modesto Posts:295 Points:85,295 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 10:20:12 AM	Ignore rbdesigns Report Abuse
	Someone should design a small windmill for people to use on their own home, but then that would be stopped real quick by the oil companies.
SavannahSteph Rookie Author Georgia Posts:76 Points:15,870 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 10:19:54 AM	Ignore SavannahSteph Report Abuse
	better option is solar panels on every roof ! not 50 foot high wind turbines.
rbdesigns Veteran Author Modesto Posts:295 Points:85,295 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 10:18:48 AM	Ignore rbdesigns Report Abuse
	There are lots of windmills in our area, but we could always use more!
roydarecker Champion Author Minnesota Posts:2,505 Points:563,330 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 10:13:55 AM	Ignore roydarecker Report Abuse
	He has the right idea. Although it is not the only answer.
Egaser Sophomore Author Atlanta Posts:172 Points:95,575 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 10:12:25 AM	Ignore Egaser Report Abuse
	I always thought he was a little windy.
sailormon Veteran Author Michigan Posts:423 Points:157,595 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 10:09:34 AM	Ignore sailormon Report Abuse
	I think the NIMBY attitude will go away once people have to pay double for electricity!! They will beg to have one in their back yard!
MAXARONI Sophomore Author Virginia Posts:177 Points:77,325 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 10:08:10 AM	Ignore MAXARONI Report Abuse
	he's smart enough to see the future is not oil
tomok Champion Author Portland Posts:7,780 Points:628,110 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 10:07:08 AM	Ignore tomok Report Abuse
	Already been done dude! Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington already have wind power sites. There are some in parts of California, Nevada and Utah. So now, T Boone, you can join the group.......
MetroManiac All-Star Author Rochester Posts:759 Points:73,765 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 10:05:51 AM	Ignore MetroManiac Report Abuse
	smart man, looking to the future.
vascojoe All-Star Author Washington Posts:719 Points:843,175 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 10:04:52 AM	Ignore vascojoe Report Abuse
	It is amazing how the press is redeeming Pickens.
jonboy08 All-Star Author Cleveland Posts:817 Points:36,970 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 10:01:10 AM	Ignore jonboy08 Report Abuse
	This is going to be fun to watch; T.Boone Pickens is going to find slim-pickens because there are many NIMBY's out there (Not In My Back Yard).
RochBear Champion Author Minnesota Posts:1,291 Points:422,675 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 10:00:26 AM	Ignore RochBear Report Abuse
	This past weekend, I stopped at a wind farm in MN. I drove right up to a 2.5 Mega Watt wind mill. IT's HUGE! The blades are 150 feet long (each) and each wind mill has 3. I drove up to it, opened the window of the car, and I could not hear it, and there was 25 MPH wind, so it was really turning. So these windmills are quieter than an ideling car! So for those who say they are noisy, goto a modern one. I saw no dead birds, (birds have some brains, and avoid them). I think they are beautiful. They are a lot more majestic than an oil pump.
chemist74 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:6,033 Points:954,645 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 9:56:21 AM	Ignore chemist74 Report Abuse
	With natural gas now very expensive and the price climbing rapidly, I doubt if natural gas powered vehicles will be more than a niche market. Wind power is becoming more practical but you are now seeing a lot more "not in my backyard". People trying to put up wind farms are getting people trying to block them because they claim they are ugly, will kill birds and may interfere with their TV reception.
CrazyQ Champion Author Washington Posts:11,852 Points:1,369,650 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 9:56:00 AM	Ignore CrazyQ Report Abuse
	Drill.
kkelkop Rookie Author Scranton Posts:91 Points:24,820 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 9:52:43 AM	Ignore kkelkop Report Abuse
	This sounds like a good idea!
tobasco Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:2,726 Points:757,415 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 9:50:51 AM	Ignore tobasco Report Abuse
	Nuclear, solar and wind...these all need to be taken advantage of in order to generate electricity. Nuclear will have to be used to charge the plug in hybrids that are charging overnight.
AC-302 Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:7,310 Points:1,225,380 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 9:50:43 AM	Ignore AC-302 Report Abuse
	Supplant oil with wind? Well his heart is in the right place, but the technology isn't mature enough to be efficient yet. But he does have a point. We're shipping over $700 Billion of our money overseas every year, when we could keep some of it at home. That kind of trade imbalance may not be sustainable.
GWayne Veteran Author Florida Posts:433 Points:107,630 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 9:48:30 AM	Ignore GWayne Report Abuse
	Sounds good to me, as long as he's not just blowing more hot air....
scrounger Champion Author Vancouver Posts:5,840 Points:1,597,890 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 9:48:27 AM	Ignore scrounger Report Abuse
	sounds like a lot of hot air to me
ladyjj All-Star Author Tennessee Posts:699 Points:69,910 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 9:48:16 AM	Ignore ladyjj Report Abuse
	Well good for him but wonder why he is doing that if he's and oilman he will lose money. What is in it for him and his ten gallon hat.
my3sons Champion Author New York Posts:1,169 Points:779,225 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: 7/9/2008 9:48:01 AM	Ignore my3sons Report Abuse
	anything that will lower the price of oil/fuel