Earth Protect Blog

T. Boone Pickens made a fortune in oil and other fossil fuels. So, I was skeptical when I first heard of the Pickens' Plan to help reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

Could an old oil man become a born again environmentalist, can a leopard change its spots? Skeptical yet intrigued, I decided to check it out for myself.

Some wild-eyed idealists might say that the plan doesn't go far enough. That it's a cynical attempt to maintain profits from fossil fuels. That it's too narrowly focused. That instead of calling for completely replacing fossil fuels with renewable sources it simply seeks to transfer the use of Natural Gas (a fossil fuel) from the production of electricity to use as a transportation fuel.

These are some of the thoughts that went through my mind as I looked the PickensPlan web site. (Yes, I've been called a wild-eyed idealist). Yet, as I delved deeper into the plan I began to think about how workable the plan is. Yes, it is narrowly focused, but I now see that as a strength rather than a weakness. I see his plan as practical and doable, especially with someone like T Boone Pickens behind it.

In addition, it doesn't preclude the development of other fuel solutions progressing in parallel. By the time we attain 22% electric production from wind as called for in the plan, other fuel alternatives may be well enough developed that we won't need to shift natural gas to transportation and can leave it in the ground.

There may also be developments in solar and geothermal energy production that further reduces our dependence on fossil fuels for electricity. I now see Pickens Plan as one more step towards energy independence and the elimination of fossil fuels for any type of energy. I now support the Pickens Plan and have joined in their effort in addition to my participation on Earth Protect.

I encourage all members of this group to join the Pickens Plan and encourage their members to join us.

To evaluate the Pickens Plan for yourself, go to: www.pickensplan.com. The more we work together, the more we can accomplish. :)