Pickens Pushes His Plan, Testifies Before Congress
by Matthew McDermott, Brooklyn, NY on 07.23.08
photo: Getty Images
While it’s not quite celebrity-style coverage, in the sense of reporting what the Texan former oil-man had for lunch, TreeHugger certainly gives T. Boone Pickens his due time. And as he’s in the middle of spending $58 million promoting his vision of how the U.S. can achieve energy independence through increasing wind power and natural gas, he definitely stays on the radar. Yesterday Pickens was in Congress urging legislators to essentially get out of his way, so that transmission line construction and permitting can be done more quickly.
Highlights of Pickens’ testimony
On government building transmission lines:
If the government wanted to build a grid, I mean, do it, But if they don't want to do it, I think the money is there to do it private, and so it's kind of like either do it or get out of the way, but give us the corridors to put it in and it'll be done. You could do this on a very, very fast track if you wanted.
Pickens went on to say that he wants control over any transmission lines he builds, rather than the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission controlling them, as is current practice.
Furthermore, Pickens urged Congress to extend production tax credits for renewable energy for another 10 years, estimating that $15 billion in taxpayer money was needed develop the 200,000 MW of wind power needed to replace 20% of U.S. electricity generation.
Pickens also predicted that oil would be at $300 per barrel in 10 years, due to dwindling supplies.
via :: Yahoo News
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So, $15 billion would be enough to encourage the private investment needed for us to get 20% of our electricity from wind within 10 years? Cool.
"Pickens went on to say that if he wants control over any transmission lines he builds, rather than the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission controlling them, as is current practice."
I DO wish that you people would proof read your stuff before you print it. The tiny word "if" in the above makes the whole sentence nonsense.
Does the above mean that Mr. Pickens wants control of the lines and power generated? If so, then Mr. Pickens should be booted out of the country on a slow boat to anywhere. I have no desire to have my electricity held hostage by some big business billionaire that thinks of nothing but making more money by any means possible! Can you say "dictator"?
He could have saved a lot of money by not spending $6 million on the Swift Boat ads against Kerry. With Kerry president and a mostly democratic congress, he probably could have pushed this through without spending $58 million promoting his vision.
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$15 billion of 20% of electrical generation sounds like a very attractive ratio. Depending on your abacus, that's 1 to 3 nukes. Also about the cost of two month's Iraq war, and we can afford that...
Pickens is in this for himself. Of course he'd like to corner the market. But that's not the only way to build capacity and transmission infrastructure.
great, more power lines. How about do it right this time and bury them. It's cheaper in the long run.
I don't suppose there was any mention of him wanting to pump water from the Ogallala aquifer. With private control of the lines, he'll be able to build his pipe line below the power lines.
Its sad to me to see that Pickens is seemingly the only person in the world with an energy plan. McCain's energy plan is "Cash Prizes" and Obama's plan is "Give $300 to Everyone so they can buy a free tank of gas!"
At least Pickens recognizes that we need to change something. And fast.
wow, thanks clm, didn't know about his water scheme. here's an article on it: http://archive.salon.com/tech/feature/2001/02/01/water_texas/index1.html