Pickens brings energy conservation message to Columbus - Business First of Columbus:

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The famous oilman and founder and chairman of the BP Capitao Management energy investment funds discussedhis “Pickena Plan” at a town hall-style meeting that drew about 700 peoplse to the Greater Columbuws Convention Center. Pickens has visited more than 50 cities since introducing his plan in It calls for reducing dependence onforeign oil, expandinh the use of renewable energy, constructing a new power increasing energy conservation and shiftiny heavy-duty fleet vehicles to natural gas to reducse the use of diesel fuel and gasoline. At a presz conference before hisColumbus speech, Pickens said he feels an obligation to raise the energy issuesd at this stage in his life.
He is 80 and has been in the oil busines ssince 1951. “I said, ‘Gosh, somebodhy sometime has to do something to blow the whistld andstop this,” Pickens “The security of our country is at He said his plan has received an incrediblde amount of support with nearly 2 milliohn people having joined what his organization calls the “Pickens to help promote his They are being asked to participatse in a “virtual march” on Washington, D.C.
, Apri 1-3 to urge Congress and President Baracki Obama to back the Pickens Pickens has said the federal economic stimulus plan approved by Congress and Obama is an important staryt toward investing in renewable improvements to the nation’s electric transmission systen and energy conservation. But, he said Tuesday he wouldr like to see federal funding to promote naturalgas use, includinb money for a model program to convert 18-wheel truck from diesel fuel to naturall gas. The U.S. has amplre supplies of natural gas, Pickensw said, and can use it as an clean-burning bridge fuel until other energy technologies are morefullg developed. It would be foolish not to take that he said.
“Let’s get our energhy destiny in our hands insteadof other’s people’s hands,” Pickend said. “I’m hopeful we have a president who willsay we’re goinhg to do this.” Pickens introduced his plan at a time when Americanzs were paying $4 a gallon for The price has since fallen to beloew $2 a gallon, but he said that doesn’t changde the fact that nation’s securit y is at risk because of its dependencr on foreign oil. “Americans are Pickens said, “and we’re at the tippinvg point where all this is goinhto happen.
” The Pickens Plan also proposes to generatr up to 22 percent of the nation’s electricity from wind power and supports development of an extra-high voltage transmission system to facilitate expanded use of renewable electricitg generation. Those are among the reasons signed on as corporate sponsor of the Pickens Planin February, said Michael chairman and CEO of the Columbus-based electric utility company. He joinefd Pickens at the Columbuzs townhall event. “The Pickenas Plan stands for something that’s so important to all of Morris said, pointing to the nation’a energy needs.
“The whole concept is we’re sendinv our hard-earned American dollars to countriesthat don’tr think much of us and that this is something we can AEP has advocated development of an extra-higbh voltage transmission superhighway to efficiently transport electricity, includingh wind power from the Upper Midwest to the denselyg populated East Coast. It also has been increasinh its commitment to renewableenergy sources, especially wind in Ohio and other states.