(Note: Jay is the head of external affairs for T. Boone Pickens)
It was about six months ago that Boone Pickens publicly unveiled “The
Pickens Plan,” a bold initiative to address the national security and
economic threats posed by America’s escalating addiction to foreign oil.
Given the upcoming debate on the federal stimulus package proposed by
President Obama, I thought it makes sense to highlight some of the
accomplishments of the Pickens Plan, and to outline how some of the core
messages Boone advanced from the start have resonated with Americans, and in
our nation’s capital.
Consider this: When Boone testified last July before the U.S. Senate
Committee on Homeland Security, he said: “I am convinced we are paying for
both sides of the Iraqi War.”
Here’s what President Obama said in his first news conference yesterday:
“America’s dependence on oil is one of the most serious threats that our
nation has faced. It bankrolls dictators, pays for nuclear proliferation and
funds both sides of our struggle against terrorism.”
Here’s another one.
Boone Pickens, last September: “Every president since Richard Nixon has
said, ‘Vote for me and we’ll be energy independent.’ But not one of them has
done a damn thing about it.”
President Obama, yesterday: “President Nixon promised to make our energy —
our nation energy independent by the end of the 1970s. When he spoke, we
imported about a third of our oil, and we now import more than half.”
None of this should come as any surprise. Way back in August, then candidate
Obama endorsed Boone’s objectives, saying: T. Boone Pickens is right. We
need a much bolder and much bigger set of solutions.”
The stimulus plan contains many items that have long been a part of The Pickens Plan. From a
renewables perspective, the progress has been nothing short of amazing.
Boone has long advocated an expanded use of natural gas as a transportation
fuel to reduce foreign oil/diesel/gasoline use, particularly in heavy duty
fleet applications. The stimulus provides some groundwork for that, but
clearly more needs to be done, and we will continue to work to achieve that
goal as Washington develops a long-term energy bill in the coming weeks and
months.
Boone has devoted a lot of time and resources to this issue, and he’s had
great support across America. We’re grateful for your interest, support and
involvement.
Now is the time to redouble our efforts. I encourage you to remind your
friends and colleagues about the importance of this initiative, and to get
involved by joining Boone’s New Energy Army and visiting pickensplan.com
— Jay