The following editorial ran in the Tulsa World on Saturday, April 23, 2011.

When T. Boone Pickens and Robert F. Kennedy can agree on something, anything, it’s noteworthy. Last week in Tulsa they agreed that the environment is important and agreed, somewhat, on how to achieve clean air while reducing U.S. dependency on foreign oil.

The “Pickens Plan” promotes, among other things, the use of natural gas to end or at least reduce the country’s foreign oil crutch. As a motor vehicle fuel, compressed natural gas (CNG) burns cleaner than gasoline and its use could reduce air pollution.

In fact, Pickens has now set out to put all of the nation’s 18-wheelers on CNG. He says that alone could reduce the import of foreign oil by 2.5 million barrels a day.

Imagine everyone in the country running their vehicles on CNG. Imagine the economic boon for Oklahoma, which is rich in natural gas deposits.

Pickens and Kennedy spoke at the first Sustainable Enterprise Conference at the Renaissance Tulsa Hotel and Convention Center.

They did not agree on some things, such as cap-and-trade and hydraulic fracturing, but they both endorsed alternate energy issues and a clean environment. Pickens is optimistic about a natural gas act making its way through Congress. He predicts that the House will pass it within 30 days.

Kennedy, noting that similar bills have bogged down in Congress before, is not so optimistic. “One thing I can’t be optimistic about is the political system,” he said.

Pickens is the head cheerleader for the use of compressed natural gas. And he is a good one. If his idea to convert all 18-wheelers to CNG and his further plan to convert all government vehicles would catch hold, it could lead to a nation of CNG-powered vehicles and possible energy independence.

He and Kennedy also agree on the search for alternate energy – wind, solar, gas and nuclear – would not only put the U.S. at the forefront of new technology but it would be a boost to the economy, creating thousands of high-paying jobs.

The U.S. can do what it always has and hope the price of oil goes down again so we can return to cheap gasoline and big vehicles. Or, we can insist that our political leaders finally do something.

Pickens and Kennedy have a similar vision. It’s one that the rest of the country ought to adopt.

Read the editorial HERE.