View source for Pickens Plan

{{Short description|Energy policy proposal}}
{{Update|inaccurate=yes|date=March 2013}}
[[File:Wolf Ridge Wind Farm 3133687706 2400b5319a b.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Wind turbines generate electricity behind a pumpjack in Muenster, Texas. This could be a common scene in the Great Plains if Pickens Plan is adopted.]]
The '''Pickens Plan''' is an [[energy policy]] proposal announced July 8, 2008, by [[United States|American]] businessman [[T. Boone Pickens]]. Pickens wanted to reduce American dependence on imported oil by investing approximately [[United States dollar|$US]]1 [[Orders of magnitude (numbers)#1012|trillion]] in new [[wind farm|wind turbine farms]] for [[Power inverter|power]] generation, which he believed would allow the [[Natural gas#Power generation|natural gas]] used for power generation to be shifted to fuel trucks and other heavy vehicles with [[Compressed natural gas]]. Pickens stated that his plan could reduce by $300 billion (43%) the amount the country spends annually on foreign oil.<ref name="dp001">{{Cite news | url=http://www.denverpost.com/rapids/ci_9845133 | title=Tycoon's plan taps wind | author=Andy Vuong | newspaper=[[The Denver Post]] | date=2008-07-11 | access-date=2008-08-08}}</ref>

==Proposal==
The main proposals of the plan are:<ref name="sbj07">{{cite news
 |url=http://albany.bizjournals.com/albany/othercities/sanantonio/stories/2008/07/07/daily13.html
 |title=Pickens backs renewable energy plan
 |newspaper=[[San Antonio Business Journal]]
 |author=Staff
 |date=2008-07-13
 |access-date=2008-07-08
}}</ref>
# Private industry would fund and install thousands of [[wind turbine]]s in the [[Great Plains]], which Pickens refers to as the potential "wind corridor" of the United States due to favorable wind resources and geographic location. Pickens estimates that these turbines could generate enough power to provide 20 percent or more of the country's electricity supply.
# Government would pay for [[electric power transmission]] lines to connect the turbine farms to the power grid. They would provide energy to the Midwest, South and Western regions of the country.
# With wind energy providing a large portion of the nation's electricity, the natural gas that is currently used to fuel power plants would be used instead as a fuel for thousands of vehicles. To increase efficiency, the Plan puts an emphasis on natural gas-burning fleets of trucks and buses.<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Pickens
 | first = Boone
 | author-link = T. Boone Pickens
 | title = The First Billion is the Hardest
 | publisher = [[Crown Publishing Group|Crown]]
 | year = 2008
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/firstbillionis00pick/page/194 194–95]
 | isbn = 978-0-307-39577-1
 | url-access = registration
 | url = https://archive.org/details/firstbillionis00pick/page/194
 }}</ref> Thus, the demand for petroleum products made from imported oil would be reduced.

=== Timetable ===
Pickens thought his plan that would provide 22% of electricity from wind power and the conversion for vehicles from gasoline to gas could be accomplished in less than 10 years with the right leadership.<ref name=Smith2008>{{Cite news
| url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/Jul/10/pickens-imports-must-be-cut/
| title= Pickens promotes wind, gas at energy forum Billionaire Texan says U.S. could cut imports 38%
| author=Jeff Smith
| newspaper=[[Rocky Mountain News]]
| date=2008-07-10
| access-date=2008-10-04
}}</ref>
However, according to Chuck McGowin, senior project manager at the [[Electric Power Research Institute]], a nonprofit organization funded by the electric power industry, the timetable was too tight.<ref name=Baker09012008>{{Cite news
| url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/01/MNO512K43O.DTL&type=printable
| title=Experts wary of Pickens' clean-energy plan
| newspaper=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]
| author=David R. Baker
| date=2008-09-01
| access-date=2008-10-04
}}</ref>
Dave Hamilton, director for global warming and energy projects at the [[Sierra Club]] agreed: "That is extremely aggressive &nbsp;.. But it's in the right direction. It's a good thing we have an oilman saying we can't drill our way out of this problem."<ref name=Hargreaves2008>{{Cite news
| url=https://money.cnn.com/2008/07/22/news/economy/pickens_wind/index.htm
| title=Wind power: A reality check
| author=Steve Hargreaves
| publisher=[[CNN Business|CNN Money]]
| date=2008-07-31
| access-date=2008-10-05
}}</ref>
Former U.S. vice president [[Al Gore]], who had spent recent years informing people about global warming, opined that all electricity generation should be completely fossil-fuel free in the next 10 years.<ref name=Hargreaves2008 />

===Wind power status and potential===
{{further|Wind power in the United States}}
Wind power had been experiencing [[exponential growth]] in the United States for several years when Pickens announced his plan.<ref name="texas_energy_report">{{Cite web
 |url=http://www.window.state.tx.us/specialrpt/energy/renewable/wind.php
 |title=The Energy Report (Publication 96-1266). Chapter 11: Wind Power
 |publisher=Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
 |year=2008
 |access-date=2008-12-06
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202075726/http://www.window.state.tx.us/specialrpt/energy/renewable/wind.php
 |archive-date=2008-12-02
 |url-status=dead
 }}</ref>
Wind power in [[Wind power in Texas|Texas]] grew very rapidly, 2400% from 1999 to 2007. In another large state, California, wind generation increased by 48% in the same period.<ref name="texas_energy_report" /> The cost of wind power generation has decreased by about 80% over the last 20 years because of technological advances and is now cost-competitive with other energy sources. Wind-generated electricity can be produced at 5 to 6 cents per kWh.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.powermag.com/issues/features/Prevailing-winds-Trends-in-U.S.-wind-energy_1573.html
 |title=Prevailing winds: Trends in U.S. wind energy
 |publisher=[[Power Magazine]]
 |author=Angela Neville, JD
 |date=2008-12-01
 |access-date=2008-12-23
}}</ref>

A yardstick used to determine locations with high potential wind energy production is referred to as [[Wind profile power law#Wind power density|Wind Power Density]] (WPD). It is a calculation relating to the effective force of the wind at a particular location, frequently expressed in terms of the elevation above ground level over a period of time. It takes into account wind velocity and mass. Color coded maps are frequently prepared for a particular area described, for example, as "Mean Annual Power Density at 50 Meters." The results of the above calculation are entered into an index developed by the [[National Renewable Energy Laboratory]] and referred to as "NREL CLASS." The larger the WPD calculation, the higher it is rated by class.<ref>Kansas Wind Energy Project, Affiliated Atlantic & Western Group Inc, 5250 W 94th Terrace, Prairie Village, Kansas 66207</ref>

The Pickens Plan called for increasing the installed wind power capacity by at least a factor of ten from its 2008 level by 2018.{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}} This would tap only a small fraction of [[Wind power in the United States#Wind power by state|total U.S. wind power potential]], which is estimated to be as much as 16 times more than the year-2005 electricity demand in the United States.<ref name=Lu2009>{{Cite journal
 |title=Global potential for wind generated electricity
 |first=Xi
 |last=Lu |author2=McElroy, Michael |author3=Kiviluoma, Juha
 |url=http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2009/06/19/0904101106.full.pdf+html
 |format=PDF
 |doi=10.1073/pnas.0904101106
 |date=2009-06-22
 |access-date=2009-06-27
 |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
 |volume=106
 |pages=10933–8
 |pmid=19549865
 |issue=27
 |pmc=2700152
|bibcode = 2009PNAS..10610933L |doi-access=free
 }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Installed U.S. wind power'''<ref name="texas_energy_report" />
|-
! Year
! [[nameplate capacity|Nameplate Capacity]], MW
|-
| 1999
| align=right | 2,500
|-
| align=right | 2000
| align=right | 2,566
|-
| 2001
| align=right | 4,261
|-
| 2002
| align=right | 4,685
|-
| 2003
| align=right | 6,374
|-
| 2004
| align=right | 6,740
|-
| 2005
| align=right | 9,149
|-
| 2006
| align=right | 11,575
|-
| 2007
| align=right | 16,596
|-
| 2008
| align=right | 25,176
|-
|}
|
[[File:US Windpower 1981-2010.PNG|thumb|center|450px|A bar graph displaying US installed wind power from 1981 to 2010]]
|
[[File:United States Wind Resources and Transmission Lines map.jpg|300px|thumb|center|Map of available wind power for the [[Wind power in the United States|United States]] at 50m. Color codes indicate wind power density class. Note the shortage of transmission lines through much of the Great Plains wind corridor.]]
|}

==Technical issues==

===Power generation and transmission lines===
{{further|High voltage direct current|Super grid}}
[[File:High voltage transmission towers and lines.jpg|250px|thumb|left|High voltage transmission lines]]
Pickens says that his plan could generate enough wind power to provide 22 percent of the country's electricity.<ref name=Smith2008/> The [[Institute for Energy Research]] (IER), an organization that is funded by the oil industry,<ref>{{cite news
 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/13/AR2008091302428.html
 |title=Offshore Drilling Is Coming to a Vote
 |newspaper=[[Washington Post]]
 |date=2008-09-13
 |access-date=2008-10-04
 | first=Paul
 | last=Kane
}}</ref> disagrees. The IER claims that Pickens' plan relies on government subsidies and that producing large amounts of wind power is not a viable option. Instead, the IER advocates "less government for more abundant and affordable energy."<ref name="IER001">{{cite web
 |url= http://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/2008/07/11/pickens-plan-leaves-us-energy-security-blowing-in-the-wind/
 |title= Picken's plan leaves U.S. energy security blowing in the wind
 |access-date= 2008-08-08
 |author= Rob Bradley
 |date= 2008-07-10
 |publisher=[[Institute for Energy Research]]
}}</ref>

Pickens acknowledges that natural gas would still be required for peak electricity demand and additional infrastructure would be needed to distribute the wind energy across the country.<ref name=Smith2008/> New transmission lines, worth $64 billion to $128 billion, would be needed to carry the power from the wind turbines to the cities.<ref name=Baker09012008/> Pickens testified before the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee and said the government should begin building transmission lines for wind-generated power in the same way that President Eisenhower did by declaring an emergency to build the interstate highway system in the 1950s and 1960s. As an alternative, Pickens proposed that the government should provide the right of way on private land and extend tax credits so the private sector can build the lines.<ref>{{cite news
 |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-oilman-clear-path-for-wind-power/
 |title=Texas Oilman: Clear Path For Wind Power
 |publisher=[[CBS news]] ([[Associated Press]])
 |date=2008-07-22
 |access-date=2008-10-04
}}</ref>
Kenneth Medlock III, an energy fellow at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy and a critic of Pickens' Plan, said "A lot of what he's trying to do is add value to a [[stranded asset]]."<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2008/08/07/Critics_Profit_drives_Pickens_energy_plan/UPI-93661218119366/
 |title=Critics: Profit drives Pickens energy plan
 |publisher=[[UPI]]
 |date=2008-08-07
 |access-date=2008-10-04
}}</ref>

Despite the recession, Denver oil man Philip Anschutz is moving forward with the construction of a wind farm in southern Wyoming and a {{convert|900|mi|km|adj=on}} transmission line to Phoenix, Las Vegas and Southern California.<ref>{{cite news
 |url=http://denver.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2008/12/08/story2.html
 |title=Renewables: Anschutz moving ahead, Pickens' plan delayed
 |newspaper=[[Denver Business Journal]]
 |author=Cathy Proctor
 |date=2008-12-05
 |access-date=2009-01-15
}}</ref>

===Intermittency===
{{Main|Intermittent power source|Wind power#Intermittency and penetration limits|l2=Wind intermittency}}

One of the [[Wind power#Intermittency and penetration limits|challenges]] with using wind to replace natural gas is the intermittent nature of wind energy, since the same wind conditions are not always present. 
According to a 2007 study by Archer & Jacobson published in the ''Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology'', interconnecting ten or more widely separated wind farms allows 33 to 47% of the total energy produced (15–20% of nominal capacity) to be used as reliable, [[baseload power|baseload electric power]], as long as minimum criteria are met for wind speed and turbine height.<ref name="connecting_wind_farms">{{cite web
 |url=http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-11/ams-tpo112107.php
 |title=The power of multiples: Connecting wind farms can make a more reliable and cheaper power source
 |publisher=[[American Association for the Advancement of Science|AAAS]]-Eurekalert
 |date=2007-11-21
 |access-date=2008-12-30
}}</ref><ref name=Archer2007>{{cite journal
 |doi=10.1175/2007JAMC1538.1
 |title=Supplying Baseload Power and Reducing Transmission Requirements by Interconnecting Wind Farms
 |author1=Archer, C. L. |author2=Jacobson, M. Z. |year=2007
 |journal=[[Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology]]
 |volume=46
 |issue=11
 |pages=1701–1717
 |url=http://www.stanford.edu/group/efmh/winds/aj07_jamc.pdf
 |access-date=2008-12-30
 |bibcode=2007JApMC..46.1701A
|citeseerx=10.1.1.475.4620
 }}</ref>

To dispatch power when the wind isn't blowing, backup power plants would be needed, according to Paul Fremont, an electric utility analyst at the investment bank Jefferies & Co.<ref name=Hargreaves2008/> Natural gas plants can quickly be brought online to supply peaking capacity during periods of low wind or peak demand.<ref name=Stier20080708>{{cite web
 |url=https://www.cnbc.com/id/25588631
 |title=Pickens' Audacious Wind-for-Gas Plan Flawed?
 |publisher=[[CNBC]]
 |author=Kenneth Stier
 |date=2008-07-08
 |access-date=2009-01-14
}}</ref>
According to Art Holland, a director at Pace Global Energy Services, the US will need to replace 140,000 MW of gas plant capacity over the next 10 years due to plant retirements.<ref name=Platts20080710>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.platts.com/Electric%20Power/highlights/2008/epp_gpr_071008.xml
 |title=T. Boone Pickens unveils grand plan to replace gas with wind; critics scoff
 |publisher=[[Platts]]
 |author=staff
 |date=2008-07-10
 |access-date=2009-01-14
}}</ref>
This translates to twice as much wind capacity due to the difference in [[capacity factor]]s.{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}}

Instead of dispatching additional power generation, energy could be conserved on demand. The [[Smart power grid]], an intelligent power distribution network currently being researched and developed, can [[Energy demand management|reduce power consumption at the client side]] during peak hours and thereby lessen our dependence on gas for [[Load following power plant|load following]].<ref name=smartgrid>{{cite web
 |title=Why Gore and Pickens Have Energy Backwards (and Kevin Costner Had It Right)
 |url=http://www.smartgridnews.com/artman/publish/grid_modernization_initiatives/Why_Gore_and_Pickens_Have_Energy_Backwards_and_Kevin_Costner_Had_It_Right_printer.html
 |author=Alex Yu Zheng
 |date=2008-08-01
 |publisher=[[Smart Grid News]]
 |access-date=2008-10-15
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211142947/http://smartgridnews.com/artman/publish/grid_modernization_initiatives/Why_Gore_and_Pickens_Have_Energy_Backwards_and_Kevin_Costner_Had_It_Right_printer.html
 |archive-date=2009-02-11
 |url-status=dead
 }}</ref>

[[Grid energy storage|Storing electricity]] is currently significantly more expensive than using [[dispatchable generation]], but it can be done.{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}} Wind energy can be stored by [[Pumped-storage hydroelectricity|pumping water uphill]] when the wind is blowing, and then releasing it through turbine generators when the electricity is needed. TVA's [[Raccoon Mountain Pumped-Storage Plant]] near Chattanooga, TN is just one example of [[Pumped-storage hydroelectricity#Worldwide list of pumped storage plants|many such installations]] that already exist in the US. Another option is to [[Grid energy storage#Hydroelectric dams|uprate the peak generating capacity]] of existing hydroelectric dams by adding more generator units;<ref name="burec_hydro">{{Cite web
 |url=http://www.usbr.gov/power/edu/pamphlet.pdf
 |title=Hydroelectric Power
 |publisher=[[United States Bureau of Reclamation]]
 |access-date=2008-10-13
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081021182534/http://www.usbr.gov/power/edu/pamphlet.pdf
 |archive-date=2008-10-21
 |url-status=dead
 }}</ref><ref name="sccpa_hoover">{{Cite web
 |url         = http://www.scppa.org/pages/projects/hoover.html
 |title       = SCPPA Hoover Uprating Project
 |publisher   = [[Southern California Public Power Authority]]
 |access-date  = 2008-12-30
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20081204053620/http://www.scppa.org/pages/projects/hoover.html
 |archive-date = 2008-12-04
}}</ref> this allows a hydroelectric plant to buffer the variable output of wind farms on the grid, by accumulating river water during periods of strong winds, and releasing extra water when winds are calm and power demand is high. A dam that impounds a large reservoir can store and release large amounts of water by adjusting the reservoir level within a few meters.{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}}

[[Compressed-air energy storage]] is another energy storage mechanism. When there is excess electrical energy production, air is compressed and stored in a limestone cavern. Then when the energy is needed again, the compressed air generates electricity by blowing through a turbine.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.sandia.gov/media/NewsRel/NR2001/norton.htm
 |title=Solution to some of country's energy woes might be little more than hot air
 |publisher=[[Sandia National Labs]]
 |date=2001-04-24
 |access-date=2009-01-16
}}</ref>
[[Vanadium redox batteries]] are being used to store energy and level loads from wind generation projects. The excess energy is stored chemically in different ionic forms of vanadium in a dilute sulphuric acid electrolyte. The reaction can be reversed, which allows the battery to be charged, discharged and recharged.

===Making the transition===
[[File:Solaris Urbino 12 LE CNG in Kielce, Poland.jpg|thumb|300px|CNG Powered Bus]]
Pickens' Plan proposes that the natural gas that is currently used to fuel power plants be used instead as a fuel for class 7 and 8 semis. Ken Medlock, a research fellow at the [[James Baker Institute|Baker Institute for Public Policy]] at Rice University, says that the US will continue to use natural gas for electric power generation.<ref name=Baker09012008/> Natural gas burns cleaner than coal, making it an increasingly popular fuel for power plants.{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}} Gas plants also produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions.{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}}

The technology needed for [[Compressed Natural Gas]] (CNG) vehicles such as City buses, fork lifts and passenger cars with CNG drivetrains is available now. Honda sells the [[Honda Civic GX|Civic GX]], with a {{convert|170|mi|km|adj=on}} range. In addition, it is possible to convert vehicles to run on CNG in addition to leaving the conventional fuel injection intact, allowing the driver to switch back and forth at will. Kits are available for the do-it-yourselfer. One can buy a CNG compressor called Phill that hooks up to the city natural gas line making it possible to refuel a CNG car at home.<ref>{{cite magazine
 |url=http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/earth/4282954.html
 |title=Pickens Overlooks Existing Natural Gas Cars in Energy Plan: Reality Check
 |magazine=[[Popular Mechanics]]
 |author=Mike Allen
 |date=2008-09-15
 |access-date=2008-10-04
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919173040/http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/earth/4282954.html
 |archive-date=2008-09-19
 |url-status=dead
 }}</ref>

On the other hand, the IER believes that natural gas vehicles are "a niche product."<ref name="IER001"/> Patricia Monahan, believes "It's going to be a big price tag" to switch to CNG vehicles. Monahan considers CNG an excellent fuel for running small fleets of vehicles which log heavy mileage per vehicle, such as buses and garbage trucks.<ref name=Baker09012008/> Vehicles which use large amounts of fuel realize savings more quickly from the lower price of CNG relative to diesel.{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}}

In November 2008, Pickens changed his position stating that he wants heavy trucks, not cars running on natural gas.<ref>{{cite video
 |url=http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=210176&title=t.-boone-pickens
 |format=Talk show
 |publisher=The Daily Show, Comedy Central
 |people= [[T. Boone Pickens]]
 |quote= '''STEWART''': Do we need to convert our cars to run on natural gas? <br />'''PICKENS''': You can, but don't. <br />'''STEWART''': Ok, but then what do you do? <br />'''PICKENS''': I want the trucks on it. The trucks are the ones to go to the natural gas.
 |date=2008-11-12
 |medium=Television production
 |access-date=2008-11-15
 |title=Interview of T. Boone Pickens by Jon Stewart
}}</ref>
Rich Kolodziej, President of [[NGVAmerica]], says the very limited distribution network for natural gas is currently available in only 1,200 out of 190,000 gas stations would better serve commercial fleets and long-haul trucks.<ref name=Stier20080708/>

==Policy issues==

===Renewable Portfolio Standards===
Twenty-four states plus the District of Columbia have [[Renewable Portfolio Standard]]s in place to set targets for renewable energy in those states. Four more states have set non-binding energy targets.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/states/maps/renewable_portfolio_states.cfm
 |title=States with Renewable Portfolio Standards
 |publisher=[[United States Department of Energy|Department of Energy]]
 |access-date=2009-01-14
}}</ref>

==Economic issues==

===Funding===
The [[Energy Policy Act of 2005]] created the Clean Renewable Energy Bond (CREB) program, effectively offering interest-free debt to eligible renewable projects.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www1.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/pdfs/43025.pdf
 |title=Annual Report on U.S. Wind Power Installation, Cost and Performance.
 |publisher=[[United States Department of Energy|Department of Energy]], Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
 |year=2007
 |access-date=2009-01-14
}}</ref>
In October 2008, the CREB program was extended to March 6, 2009.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.appanet.org/legislative/index.cfm?ItemNumber=15913
 |title=Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBs)
 |publisher=[[American Power Association]]
 |date=October 2008
 |access-date=2009-01-14
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071119203441/http://www.appanet.org/legislative/index.cfm?ItemNumber=15913
 |archive-date=2007-11-19
 |url-status=dead
 }}</ref>

Since July 2008, Pickens’ Dallas-based investment firm, BP Capital, has lost as much as $2 billion as a result of the falling stock market and credit crunch. Pickens may have lost around $300 million of his personal funds.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.fwbusinesspress.com/display.php?id=8846
 |title=Funding for Pickens Plan appears to be slim pickings
 |publisher=[[Fort Worth Business Press]]
 |author=John-Laurent Tronche
 |date=2008-11-08
 |access-date=2009-01-14
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711061858/http://www.fwbusinesspress.com/display.php?id=8846
 |archive-date=2011-07-11
 |url-status=dead
 }}</ref>

===Cost of wind vs. natural gas===
According to Jerry Taylor, senior fellow at the [[Cato Institute]], using wind to generate most of the nation's electricity would undoubtedly result in higher retail electric rates because wind power is twice as expensive as natural gas-fired generation "and probably more if you take out the subsidies."<ref name=Platts20080710/> However, the [[American Wind Energy Association]] points out that the cost of wind power has dropped by more than 90% in the last 20 years and expects the cost to continue to decline as the industry matures. In contrast, the cost of natural gas is expected to rise. Moreover, the effects on the environment and public health for natural gas are estimated to cost some 0.5 to 2.0 cents per kWh.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.awea.org/pubs/factsheets/EconomicsOfWind-Feb2005.pdf
 |title=Economics of Wind - Fact Sheet
 |publisher=[[American Wind Energy Association]]
 |date=February 2005
 |access-date=2009-01-14
 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080821234040/http://www.awea.org/pubs/factsheets/EconomicsOfWind-Feb2005.pdf
 |archive-date = 2008-08-21
}}</ref>
Similar costs from wind are marginal.

===Peak gas===
{{Update|this section|date=January 2012}}
{{Main|Peak gas}}
[[File:US Natural Gas Production.svg|thumb|US gas production since 1900, source: US EIA]]
The use of natural gas is a key component to Picken's proposal. There are concerns, however, that gas production has already reached its maximum production rate, a point known as [[peak gas]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}} US gas production peaked in 1973 at about 24.1 trillion cubic feet, declined until 1985, and has been slowly increasing over the last 23 years. (see figure on left).<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/ng/hist/n9050us2m.htm
 |title=U.S. Natural Gas Marketed Production (Million Cubic Feet)
 |publisher=[[Energy Information Administration]]
 |date=2008-11-26
 |access-date=2008-12-23
}}</ref>
According to peak theory, the rate of production enters a [[gas depletion|terminal decline]] after the peak. Peak gas has already been confirmed by Exxon's CEO Lee Raymond. In 2005, he said to Reuters that "Gas production has peaked in North America."<ref>{{cite news
 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/Utilities/idUSN2163310420050621
 |title=Exxon says N. America gas production has peaked
 |work=[[Reuters]]
 |date=2005-06-21
 |access-date=2008-10-04
}}</ref>
The Reuters article continues to say "While the number of U.S. rigs drilling for natural gas has climbed about 20 percent over the last year and prices are at record highs, producers have been struggling to raise output." John DeCicco, a senior fellow at [[Environmental Defense]], is critical of the plan because it assumes that gas would remain cheap despite growing demand and increasing reliance on imports as evidenced by proposals for [[LNG]] terminals.<ref name=Stier20080708/>

However, implementing Pickens Plan does not require an increase in the supply of natural gas; it calls for a ''shift'' in its use, rather than an ''increase''. Natural gas production has been slightly and consistently increasing in the United States for more than two decades. Proven recoverable U.S. gas reserves have slightly but consistently risen since 1996 and are about the same as in 1976.<ref>{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/natural_gas/data_publications/crude_oil_natural_gas_reserves/current/pdf/arr.pdf
 |title       = U.S. Crude Oil, Natural Gas, and Natural Gas Liquids Reserves Report
 |publisher   = [[Energy Information Administration]]
 |year        = 2006
 |pages       = (tables 1 and 2)
 |access-date  = 2008-12-29
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20090102230939/http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/natural_gas/data_publications/crude_oil_natural_gas_reserves/current/pdf/arr.pdf
 |archive-date = 2009-01-02
}}</ref>
Estimates of technically recoverable reserves in the United States vary as they are generated by geological inferences, but the U.S. [[Energy Information Administration]] 2009 estimate was 1747 trillion cubic feet,<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/aeo/assumption/pdf/oil_gas.pdf
 |title=Energy Information Administration - Oil and Gas Supply Module 2009
 |publisher=[[Energy Information Administration]]
 |year=2009
 |pages=table 9.2
 |access-date=2009-11-09
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.naturalgas.org/overview/resources.asp
 |title       = Resources, How Much Natural Gas is There
 |publisher   = [[Natural Gas Supply Association]]
 |access-date  = 2008-12-29
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20081218114833/http://www.naturalgas.org/overview/resources.asp
 |archive-date = 2008-12-18
}}</ref> enough to provide domestic production at 2005 rates for nearly 80 years.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.gefa.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=128
 |title=NATURAL GAS (Production, Consumption and Price: Effects on Georgia's Industries)
 |publisher=Faculty of Engineering Outreach Service, University of Georgia
 |format=PDF
 |access-date=2008-12-28
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100705220251/http://www.gefa.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=128
 |archive-date=2010-07-05
 |url-status=dead
 }}</ref><ref>The calculation is: 1747 trillilion cu. ft. / 21.96 trillion cu. ft/year= 79.55 years.</ref>

==Other options==

===Nuclear power vs. wind power===
{{Main|Nuclear power|Nuclear power debate|Radioactive waste}}
Pickens' plan will require the construction of large scale wind farms to generate electricity. Critical of the plan, the [[National Center for Public Policy Research]], a self described conservative think tank, asserts that nuclear power plants would be a better alternative than the wind farms.<ref>{{cite web
 |url           = http://www.nationalcenter.org/NPA574.html
 |title         = The Pickens Plan: Questions Unanswered
 |publisher     = [[National Center for Public Policy Research]]
 |author1       = Reece A. Epstein
 |author2       = David A. Ridenour
 |name-list-style = amp
 |date          = September 2008
 |access-date    = 2008-10-12
 |archive-url   = https://web.archive.org/web/20081016024541/http://www.nationalcenter.org/NPA574.html
 |archive-date  = 2008-10-16
 |url-status    = dead
}}</ref>
They say that nuclear power is also environmentally sound and creates very little waste, that nuclear power is also far cheaper than wind power, and that to build the wind farms would take many square miles of land.

===Electricity vs. natural gas for powering vehicles===
[[File:TeslaRoadster-side.jpg|thumb|250px|All-electric [[Tesla Roadster (2008)]]]]
To some,<ref name="Brown08">{{cite web|url=http://www.earthpolicy.org/Updates/2008/Update75.htm|title=Want a Better Way to Power Your Car? It's a Breeze.|last=Brown|first=Lester R.|date=2008-09-07|publisher=Earth Policy Institute|access-date=2009-03-16}}</ref><ref name="Melcher08">{{cite web|url=http://www.miller-mccune.com/article/picking-on-pickens%E2%80%99-plan|title=Picking on Pickens' Plan The fossil-fueled portions of T. Boone Pickens' energy plan for the U.S. have had a rough ride.|last=Melcher|first=Joan|date=2008-10-17|publisher=Miller-McCune|access-date=2009-03-16|quote=In a recent appearance on NBC's Meet the Press, Gore noted, "There are vehicles running today on natural gas. Chattanooga, Tennessee, has natural gas buses. It's a respectable option. But I think that in the long term the better approach is to make this investment in a unified national grid that has low losses in transmission ... and shift over to renewable resources."|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107141817/http://www.miller-mccune.com/article/picking-on-pickens%E2%80%99-plan|archive-date=2009-01-07}}</ref> this plan seems to ignore one of the most fruitful paths{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}} to cut into America's foreign oil addiction: [[plug-in hybrid]]s and [[Electric car|fully electric vehicles]]. Wind generated electricity could directly fuel America's ever-more electrified transport sector. Some hybrid owners<ref name="Hybrid08" /> argue the part that using compressed natural gas as a transportation fuel does not make sense especially when the new wave of electric and hybrid-electric vehicles that are expected to hit the market in the coming years.<ref name="Hybrid08">{{cite web
 |url=http://www.hybridcars.com/news/pickens-plan-promotes-compressed-natural-gas-vehicles-25022.html
 |title=Pickens Plan Promotes Compressed Natural Gas Vehicles
 |publisher=Hybrid Cars
 |date=2008-09-17
 |access-date=2008-10-07
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921045548/http://www.hybridcars.com/news/pickens-plan-promotes-compressed-natural-gas-vehicles-25022.html
 |archive-date=2008-09-21
 |url-status=dead
 }}</ref>
The US government is already promoting the adoption of PHEVs and EVs. The $700 billion bailout bill signed by President Bush in 2008 includes tax credits up to $7,500 for US buyers of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.hybridcars.com/incentives-laws/congress-throws-cash-plug-hybrids-25093.html
 |title=Congress Throws Cash At Plug-In Hybrids
 |publisher=Hybrid Cars
 |date=2008-10-04
 |access-date=2008-10-07
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081008081418/http://www.hybridcars.com/incentives-laws/congress-throws-cash-plug-hybrids-25093.html
 |archive-date=2008-10-08
 |url-status=dead
 }}</ref>

Pickens does not believe that all electric vehicles are viable, especially trucks.{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}} In his plan natural gas primarily replaces [[diesel fuel]]. Pickens frequently makes the statement that "the battery won't move an eighteen wheeler"<ref>{{cite video
 |url=http://fora.tv/2008/09/22/T_Boon_Pickens_Disagrees_with_Al_Gore_on_Energy
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081005015206/http://fora.tv/2008/09/22/T_Boon_Pickens_Disagrees_with_Al_Gore_on_Energy
 |url-status=usurped
 |archive-date=October 5, 2008
 |title=T. Boone Pickens Disagrees with Al Gore on Energy
}}</ref> although batteries, electric drivetrain, and engines for heavy vehicles exist in [[Hybrid electric bus|hybrid buses]] and a hybrid version of the military's [[Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck|HEMTT heavy lift vehicle]].<ref>{{cite magazine
 |url=http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/automotive_news/2674491.html
 |title=The Army Goes Green
 |magazine=[[Popular Mechanics]]
 |author=Ted Latiak
 |date=2006-04-22
 |access-date=2008-11-16
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090421121119/http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/automotive_news/2674491.html
 |archive-date=2009-04-21
 |url-status=dead
 }}</ref>
The Port of Los Angeles and South Coast Air Quality Management District have demonstrated a short-range heavy-duty electric truck manufactured by Balqon Corporation (http://www.balqon.com) capable of hauling a fully loaded {{convert|40|ft|m|adj=on}} cargo container. The current design is capable of pulling a 60,000-pound cargo container at speeds up to 40&nbsp;mph and has a range of between 30 and 60 miles.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.portoflosangeles.org/DOC/Electric_Truck_Fact_Sheet.pdf
 |title=Electric Truck Demonstration Project Fact Sheet
 |publisher=[[Port of Los Angeles]]
 |author=Theresa Adams Lopez
 |year=2008
 |access-date=2009-01-04
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090320010557/http://www.portoflosangeles.org/DOC/Electric_Truck_Fact_Sheet.pdf
 |archive-date=2009-03-20
 |url-status=dead
 }}</ref>
William Tahil of Meridian International Research acknowledges that hybrid or completely electric long-haul semi-trucks are technically possible, but poses the question if there is enough [[lithium carbonate]] production currently to support the production of the needed batteries.<ref name=tahil2007>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.meridian-int-res.com/Projects/Lithium_Problem_2.pdf
 |title=The Trouble with Lithium - Implications of Future PHEV Production for Lithium Demand
 |publisher=Meridian International Research
 |author=William Tahil
 |pages=15
 |date=January 2007
 |access-date=2009-01-04
}}</ref>

===Gore's Global Warming vs. Pickens Plan===
The plans of T. Boone Pickens and Al Gore have some similarities - each lessens the dependence on fossil fuels - but differ in their eventual goals. Pickens specifically wants to see [[energy security]] by increasing the use of domestic energy sources including fossil fuels while Gore wants to eliminate the burning of fossil fuels altogether to stop [[global warming]].<ref name="Melcher08"/> Pickens claims to have a plan that could accomplish this with existing technology, while Gore advocates new research to reduce costs.{{Citation needed|date=November 2008}} A study by the [[European Renewable Energy Council]] states that the burning of fossil fuels for energy could be eliminated globally by 2090 using existing technology, and earlier for western nations.<ref name="ErecRep01">{{cite news
 | author = Alister Doyle
 | title = World can halt fossil fuel use by 2090: study
 | url = https://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSTRE49Q2I820081027
 | work = Reuters
 | date = 2008-10-27
 | access-date = 2008-11-15
 }}</ref><ref name="ErecRep02">{{cite web
 | title = Energy (r)evolution 2008 : a Sustainable Global Energy Outlook
 | url = http://www.erec.org/fileadmin/erec_docs/Documents/Publications/energy__r_evolution_-_a_sustainable_energy_outlook_2009-lr.pdf
 | publisher = [[European Renewable Energy Council]]
 | date = 2008-10-17
 | pages = 210
 | access-date = 2008-11-15
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081118010149/http://www.erec.org/fileadmin/erec_docs/Documents/Publications/energy__r_evolution_-_a_sustainable_energy_outlook_2009-lr.pdf
 | archive-date = 2008-11-18
 | url-status = dead
 }}</ref>

==Dependence on foreign fuels==
Pickens estimates that his plan would cut oil imports by 38 percent.{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}} Patricia Monahan, deputy director of the clean vehicles program at the Union of Concerned Scientists thinks differently. She questions the wisdom of trying to replace large amounts of imported oil with another fossil fuel, especially considering that the United States already has to import 19 percent of the natural gas it uses.<ref name=Baker09012008/> The US has been steadily increasing its imports of natural gas since 1985 (see figure to the left),<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/ng/hist/n9100us2a.htm
 |title=U.S. Natural Gas Imports
 |publisher=Energy Information Administration
 |date=2008-11-26
 |access-date=2008-12-23
}}</ref> mainly from Canada.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/ng/ng_move_impc_s1_a.htm
 |title=U.S. Natural Gas Imports by Country
 |publisher=Energy Information Administration
 |date=2008-11-26
 |access-date=2008-12-23
}}</ref>

According to Jerry Taylor, senior fellow at the [[Cato Institute]], is that "foreign oil is not bad; it is good." The US is now importing about 70% of its oil needs annually because it is cheaper than other forms of energy.{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}} Taylor says that if compressed natural gas is the best option for transportation fuel then "the markets will see it," and over time CNG could outperform gasoline as a cheaper transportation fuel.<ref name=Platts20080710/>

==Questions over Pickens' motives and methods==
Many critics of the Pickens Plan highlight ways that Pickens could potentially benefit personally from the plan. For instance, Pickens owns the water rights to a huge ancient aquifer in the [[Texas Panhandle]] and overall owns more water than anyone else in the U.S.<ref name="bw002">{{cite magazine| author = Susan Berfield| title = There will be water| url = http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_25/b4089040017753.htm| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080615035055/http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_25/b4089040017753.htm| url-status = dead| archive-date = June 15, 2008| magazine = Business Week| date = 2008-06-12| access-date = 2008-08-08}}</ref> Increasing water demands and drought may make cities in the Great Plains willing to purchase water at high prices. Implementing Pickens Plan would give him rights to build electric transmission lines, and by getting a wider right of way it would allow Pickens to build water pipelines.<ref name="pm001">{{cite magazine| author = Michael Milstein| title = Beyond Wind Plan, Pickens Eyes Pipelines in Drought-Ridden U.S. Popular Mechanics| url = http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/earth/4275059.html| magazine = Popular Mechanics| date = 2008-07-25| access-date = 2008-08-08| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080807173117/http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/earth/4275059.html| archive-date = 2008-08-07| url-status = dead}}</ref>

A similar strategy was attempted in Texas, where Pickens is building a wind farm that will bring electricity to Dallas, Texas. The proposed pipeline would have followed the same {{convert|250|mi|km|adj=on}} corridor as the electric transmission lines from the wind farms, which was to be seized for utility use from private owners through eminent domain. Many Texas landowners and legislators denounced the plan, particularly the fact that it allowed eminent domain to be exercised by an agency consisting only of T. Boone Pickens's employees.<ref name="lo001">{{cite news
 |author1=Sen. Robert Duncan  |author2=Sen. Kel Seliger
  |name-list-style=amp | title = Boone Pickens' plan to sell water aren't good for West Texas
 | url = http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/071008/loc_302185743.shtml
 | publisher = Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
 | date = 2008-07-10
 | access-date = 2009-08-15
}}</ref>
In September 2008, the water pipeline was suspended.<ref>http://www.robertscountyfwsd.com/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080916000152/http://www.robertscountyfwsd.com/ |date=2008-09-16 }} Retrieved 2009-08-15.</ref> T. Boone Pickens continues to purchase water rights in the Great Plains and has plans to build more, smaller wind farms.<ref name="bw003">{{cite magazine
 | author = Susan Berfield
 | title = Pickens Pulls Up Stakes
 | url = http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/jul2009/db2009078_354291.htm?chan=rss_topStories_ssi_5
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090712004500/http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/jul2009/db2009078_354291.htm?chan=rss_topStories_ssi_5
 | url-status = dead
 | archive-date = July 12, 2009
 | magazine = Business Week
 | date = 2009-07-09
 | access-date = 2009-08-15
}}</ref>

T. Boone Pickens would be in an excellent position to benefit financially if the plan is implemented. His hedge fund, BP Capital, is highly invested in wind and natural gas enterprises.<ref>{{cite news
 | author = David Lazarus
 | title = Don't dismiss Pickens' plan yet
 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-jul-09-fi-lazarus9-story.html
 | newspaper = Los Angeles Times
 | date = 2008-07-09
 | access-date = 2009-01-21
}}</ref>
He is the majority stockholder of Clean Energy, the largest supplier of natural gas for vehicles in the United States.<ref>{{cite news
 | author = Kate Galbraith
 | title = Pickens Plan Stirs Debate, and Qualms
 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/05/business/05pickens.html
 | newspaper = New York Times
 | date = 2008-08-05
 | access-date = 2009-01-21
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 | url=http://www.cleanenergyfuels.com/corporate/
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223120212/http://www.cleanenergyfuels.com/corporate/
 | url-status=dead
 | archive-date=2012-02-23
 | title=Profile
 | publisher=Clean Energy
 | access-date=2009-01-21
}}</ref>

In rebuttal to many critics' opposition, Pickens insists his interest is more in the country's future, than his personal wealth.<ref>{{cite web
 | url=http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/michigan/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1379470&sectionID=756
 | title=Pickens Plan
 | author=Steve Carmody
 | publisher=Public Broadcasting
 | date=2008-10-01
 | access-date=2008-10-04
}}</ref>
Possibly as a move against such accusations{{Citation needed|date=August 2012}}, Pickens has donated over $700 million to philanthropic causes. In the last few years, he has often been on the ''Chronicle of Philanthropy'''s list of top U.S. philanthropists.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS249707+21-May-2008+BW20080521 "T. Boone Pickens Makes $100 Million Gift to Oklahoma State University"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090110224827/http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS249707+21-May-2008+BW20080521 |date=2009-01-10 }}, ''Reuters'', May 21, 2008</ref> Still, there are some who are uneasy about a man who made millions in the oil business advocating clean energy:

{{quote|"When it comes to the Pickens Plan, the burr under my saddle is Pickens himself. I mean, isn't an oil guy selling air and gas a little like [[Donald Trump]] pitching poverty? It's downright uncomfortable."| Jay McDonald<ref>[http://www.bankrate.com/finance/personal-finance/pickens-plan-needs-better-pitchman-1.aspx Pickens Plan Needs Better Pitchman] by Jay MacDonald, ''Bankrate'', January 7, 2009</ref>}}

Real concerns over natural gas being used for both home heat and vehicle fuel are that they may create shortages every year in the winter months when demand for home heating natural gas skyrockets. Since many American home owners already use natural gas to heat their homes, a huge increase in demand for natural gas as a vehicle fuel combined with the existing huge home heating demand based on harsh winter temperatures, could drive up natural gas prices ever year. This could be especially economically devastating to family budgets during the holiday months when people normally allocate more of their money for holiday shopping. Having to pay more for vehicle fuel and home heat at the same time (because both would be the same product) could have a major economic impact on the nation every year.

Another concern is that the reasoning behind the big immediate push for a natural gas future, is to lock out possible development and implementation of more viable renewable energy sources. If people can be convinced that natural gas is the best possible future, and a large expenditure can be made now for a massive natural gas infrastructure to use natural gas for vehicle fuel, it will be much more difficult to abandon natural gas as a vehicle fuel and move on to newer, less expensive renewable energy sources as they become more viable to use. If renewable fuel sources are allowed to develop before the country can be convinced to move to natural gas, the window of opportunity to addict the country to natural gas may close, and the people associated with the natural gas industry would lose a lot of money now and in the foreseeable future.

The "Pickens Plan" (which many{{who|date=July 2012}} believe is designed to make Pickens himself much more wealthy) is a "non-profit" organization.

==Support campaign==
In 2008, Pickens announced that he would spend $58 million on a multi-media effort to promote his proposal, through both [[old media]] (such as newspapers and television), and new media (including [[YouTube]], [[Facebook]], [[MySpace]], [[Twitter]], and the creation of a new social network on the Pickens Plan website).<ref name="bw001">{{cite magazine
 | author = Adam Schreck
 | title = Pickens backs renewable energy plan
 | magazine = Business Week
 | date = 2008-07-08
 }}</ref><ref name="wsj001">{{cite news
 | author = Tom Weber
 | title = T. Boone Pickens, Facebook Guy? 'Pickens Plan' Taps Social Networking
 | url = https://blogs.wsj.com/buzzwatch/2008/07/08/t-boone-pickens-facebook-guy-pickens-plan-taps-social-networking/?mod=googlenews_wsj
 | newspaper = Wall Street Journal
 | date = 2008-07-08
 | access-date = 2008-08-08
}}</ref>
As part of this effort, Pickens appeared on many American news programs and talk shows during 2008, such as ''[[The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer]]'', ''[[Good Morning America]]'', [[The Tonight Show with Jay Leno]], [[Larry King Live]], [[Fox News]] and [[The Daily Show with Jon Stewart]].<ref>{{cite news
 |url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0808/04/lkl.01.html
 |title=Larry King Live - Transcript of The Energy Crisis
 |publisher=[[CNN]]
 |date=2008-08-04
 |access-date=2008-10-07
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna27069149
 |title=Race for the White House - Transcript, October 6, 2008
 |publisher=[[NBC News]]
 |date=2008-10-06
 |access-date=2008-10-07
}}</ref><ref name="forbes001">{{cite magazine
 | author = Allison Fass
 | title = Pickens Goes For The Grass Roots
 | url = https://www.forbes.com/technology/2008/07/11/pickensplan-wind-energy-tech-science-cz_af_0710pickens.html
 | magazine = Forbes
 | date = 2008-07-11
 | access-date = 2008-08-08
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918165123/http://www.forbes.com/technology/2008/07/11/pickensplan-wind-energy-tech-science-cz_af_0710pickens.html|archive-date=2008-09-18}}</ref>
Pickens is aided by his spokesperson Jay Rosser and political ad firm [[Joe Slade White]] & Co.<ref name="forbes001" />

To raise political support, Pickens planned to organize supporters by Congressional districts.<ref name="wsj001" /> He also met with the main party candidates for the [[2008 United States presidential election|2008 United States Presidential election]] to discuss his plan. He met with [[John McCain]] on August 15, 2008, and with [[Barack Obama]] on August 17, 2008.<ref name="pickens_meets_mccain">
{{cite news
 |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/08/15/politics/fromtheroad/entry4352927.shtml
 |title=McCain Meets With T. Boone Pickens, Dodges Question About Anti-Obama Book
 |publisher=[[CBS News]]
 |access-date=2008-08-17
 |last=Corsaro
 |first=Ryan
 |date=2008-08-15
}}</ref><ref name="pickens_meets_obama">
{{cite news
 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-08-17-obama-pickens_N.htm
 |title=Obama discusses energy issues with Pickens
 |newspaper=[[USA Today]]
 |access-date=2008-08-17
 |date=2008-08-17
 }}</ref>

In October 2008, Pickens announced that the one millionth person had signed up to support his plan,<ref name="millionth_member">{{cite magazine
 |url=https://www.forbes.com/businesswire/feeds/businesswire/2008/10/13/businesswire20081013006115r1.html
 |title=Pickens' Army Reaches One Million Member Milestone
 |date=2008-10-13
 |access-date=2008-10-13
 |magazine=[[Forbes]]
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081018080027/http://www.forbes.com/businesswire/feeds/businesswire/2008/10/13/businesswire20081013006115r1.html|archive-date=2008-10-18}}</ref> and that two U.S. Senators, 37 U.S. Congressmen and nine governors had pledged "to enact an energy plan that reduces our foreign oil dependence by at least 30% within ten years."<ref name="millionth_member"/><ref name="pickens_pledge">{{Cite web
 |url=http://www.pickensplan.com/thepledge/
 |title=The Pledge
 |publisher=pickensplan.com
 |access-date=2008-10-13
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011091946/http://www.pickensplan.com/thepledge/
 |archive-date=2008-10-11
 |url-status=dead
 }}</ref>
A year later, another 600,000 people had signed up to support the plan.<ref>[http://news.bostonherald.com/news/national/general/view/20091020t_boone_pickens_says_interest_in_energy_plan_growing/srvc=home&position=recent "T. Boone Pickens says interest in energy plan growing"]{{Dead link|date=May 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, by Elwin Green, ''Boston Herald'', October 20, 2009</ref>

==Major endorsements==
[[Carl Pope (environmentalist)|Carl Pope]], executive director of the [[Sierra Club]], has expressed support for the Pickens Plan and stated, “To put it plainly, T. Boone Pickens is out to save America”.<ref name="usatoday001">{{cite news
 | author = Dan Reed
 | title = Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens wants to supplant oil with wind
 | url = https://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2008-07-08-t-boone-pickens-plan-wind-energy_N.htm
 | newspaper = USA Today
 | date = 2008-07-11
 | access-date = 2008-08-08
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/20080725-9999-1n25pickens.html
 |title=Pickens pitches plans to shift U.S. away from oil
 |publisher=[[Union-Tribune]]
 |author=Dean Calbreath
 |date=2008-07-25
 |access-date=2008-10-07
}}</ref>
Former Clinton White House chief of staff and current president of the [[Center for American Progress]] [[John Podesta]] supports the plan.<ref>{{cite news
 |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/08/27/politics/horserace/entry4390453.shtml
 |title=T. Boone Pickens Predicts $200 A Barrel Oil
 |publisher=[[CBS News]]
 |author=Scott Conroy
 |date=2008-08-27
 |access-date=2008-10-07
}}</ref>
Barack Obama has stated he supports many elements of the plan.<ref>{{cite news
 |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/obama-praises-republican-oil-tycoon-t-boone-pickens
 |title=Obama Praises Republican Oil Tycoon T. Boone Pickens
 |publisher=[[Fox News]]
 |author=Neil Cavuto
 |date=2008-08-20
 |access-date=2008-10-07
}}</ref>
The [[American Lung Association]] endorses the Pickens Plan.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/American-Lung-Association-Announces-Support/story.aspx?guid={0D6918AF-C5E3-4659-B5B6-51441C17CCF0}
 |title=American Lung Association Announces Support of Pickens Plan
 |publisher=Market Watch
 |access-date=2008-12-23
}}</ref>
Former Republican governor of South Carolina, [[Mark Sanford]] supports the Pickens Plan.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.scgovernor.com/news/releases/10-31-08.htm
 |title=Republican Governor of South Carolina, Mark Sanford supports the Pickens Plan.
 |publisher=office of the governor
 |access-date=2009-03-12
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310044120/http://www.scgovernor.com/news/releases/10-31-08.htm
 |archive-date=2009-03-10
 |url-status=dead
 }}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Renewable energy|Energy}}
* [[Compressed natural gas]]
* [[Electricity generation]]
* [[Energy in the United States]]
* [[List of energy storage projects]]
* [[Nolan County, Texas]]
* [[Pampa Wind Project]]
* [[Peak gas]]
* [[Super grid]]
* [[Wind power]]
* [[Wind power in Texas]]
* [[Wind power in the United States]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [http://www.pickensplan.com Pickens Plan]
* [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/t-boone-pickens/time-is-money-about-half_b_212588.html Time Is Money, About Half a Million Dollars a Minute] by T. Boone Pickens, ''The Huffington Post'', June 8, 2009
* [http://voicesofoklahoma.com/boone_pickens.html Voices of Oklahoma interview with T. Boone Pickens.] First person interview conducted on August 6, 2010 with T. Boone Pickens. Original audio and transcript archived with [http://voicesofoklahoma.com/index.html Voices of Oklahoma oral history project.]

{{Energy in the USA}}
{{Wind power}}
{{Electricity generation}}
{{Electricity grid modernization}}
{{Peak oil}}
{{Alternative propulsion}}

[[Category:Energy policy]]
[[Category:Renewable energy in the United States]]
[[Category:Wind power in the United States]]
[[Category:Political plans in the United States]]