Oil tycoon wants to wrangle wind energy
9:39 p.m. Wednesday, July 30, 2008
It was standing room and an overflow crowd outside as T. Boone Pickens rallied support for wind energy in the very windy state of Kansas. He's already got the thumbs up from Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.
"When you're in a hole you quit digging," Sebelius says.
Pickens explained the economic hole on a dry erase board with a magic marker, $700 billion being spent on oil each year in America and 70 percent of it foreign oil. He says natural gas is a good energy source to bridge the gap between oil and wind. He estimates wind energy could replace natural gas and reduce spending on foreign oil by 38 percent.
"That's big that is big, and when I took that to the White House I said 'have you ever seen a bigger number that we can recover from the $700 billion than this?' They said no," Pickens said.
He says America got into this $700 billion crisis because oil was cheap, but can wind really dig us out of the hole.
When asked if wind energy could become inexpensive enough to be as attractive to Americans as the oil, Pickens said "yes, wind energy will be the cheapest in the power. Well, I say that, coal may be, but when you start sequestering the CO2 on coal it will go up, and wind will be cheaper than coal."
Related links
Couldn't make it to the town hall meeting with oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens? That's okay.
Check out the Pickens Plan here. There, you can even get answers to the questions you have.
You can also see the Pickens Plan on your favorite social Web site.
That cheap energy could make a big economic difference in Kansas.
"Even when the legislature is not in session, we are the third windiest state in the country, we are in what's referred to around the world, as the Saudi Arabia of wind," Sebelius said.
Pickens says we still need oil in the mix, but if we use it, it should come from our own country.
As Pickens prepared to take the podium, workers scrambled to set up a makeshift viewing area for the larger than expected crowd. Speakers allowed people listen to the oil tycoon's plan outside.
Most of the people 49 News talked to said it just makes sense and were exited about someone tackling the issue of high energy costs.
"What he's saying is, 'folks there is an issue here, and I want to help try and solve it. but I need your ideas,'" attendee Jim Glass said. "And, I think he's coming from the heart."
"I think he's right on with his comments, and I think he he understands the issues and is behind the issues 100 percent" attendee Steve Reichle said.
"I think this is historic and especially amazed because this is the first town meeting that he's having. I think it's a wonderful representation of Kansans and that this is certainly a priority for them," Becky Razak said.
Coming soon, local, young television talent will shine on 49 News Kidcasts. Check back to see local kids, 4th through 8th grade, to give the weather on TV.
Comments
Note: ktka.com does not necessarily condone the comments here, nor vouch for the factual claims made therein. Nor do we review every post.
Jul. 31, 2008 at 1:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)parkay (anonymous)
Drill!
Post a comment
(Requires free registration.)