Pickens Plan Talks Energy, Economy

COLUMBUS, Ohio—Reducing American dependence on foreign oil: that’s the plan of one of the world’s wealthiest men.

T. Boone Pickens took part in a town hall meeting on energy and the economy in Downtown Tuesday.

Pickens, a philanthropist and deep-pocketed money man, teamed up with AEP CEO Michael Morris to discuss the need to modernize and expand the electricity grid.

PICKENS PLAN FAST FACTS
Here are the FAST FACTS on Pickens Plan and the role it could play in the economic recovery of Ohio.

- Reduce dependence on foreign oil.
- Expand the use of renewable energy.
- Construct a new 21st-century power grid. 

NBC 4’s Colleen Marshall GOT ANSWERS Tuesday on what it would take to change the way America gets its energy.

Pickens said the power to end what he calls America’s addiction to foreign oil is going to come from its people.

Pickens, who is 80, said in his lifetime politicians have failed to provide the leadership needed to steer America toward energy independence. 

He said no one presented a viable plan—until now.

“It has nothing to do with politics. It has nothing to do with anything other than us in this room and all over this country,“ he said at the town hall meeting.

Pickens is a man with a mission, and since launching his Pickens Plan last July, nearly 2 million Americans have signed on to be followers, including Ohio Governor Ted Strickland and energy giant American Electric Power. 

AEP’s Morris agreed America needs a new, multi-platform energy plan.

“Energy efficiency, conservation demand, side management, wind, sun. All of those things have to be part of this equation because we have to attack this any way that we can,“ Morris said.

AEP is leading the charge for a new high-voltage energy grid.

Pickens Plan also calls for using new technologies to tap into America’s underused deep shale natural-gas supplies.

Both men agreed new energy storage technologies will have to compensate for the intermittent power generated by solar and wind and that young American minds will help lead us to energy independence.

The fact of the matter is, the kids are going to fix this. They’re going to figure this out. There is so much intellectual capacity waiting to get to the table to bring us some of these answers,“ Morris said. 

“Let’s get on our own resources. Let’s get off somebody else’s. You know, have our own energy destiny in our hands instead of somebody else’s hands. You know I like that,“ Pickens said.

Pickens is advocating swift action from the private sector and Congress. 

For example, he wants to see incentives for big semi tractor-trailers to begin using natural gas for fuel.

Pickens called for a virtual march on Washington from Wednesday, April 1, to Friday, April 3, hoping Pickens Plan supporters will blanket the nation’s political leaders with e-mails, phone calls, text messages that call for action.

Click here for more information on the Pickens Plan.

For additional information, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com—Where Accuracy Matters.
To submit a story idea or news tip, e-mail .
MORE: NBC 4 Local News | Local Crime News
NBC 4 SPORTS: Sports News, Video
NBC 4 POLITICS: Headlines, Interactives & Video