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 Capitakl Management energy investment fundx discussedhis “Pickens Plan” at a town hall-style meetingh that drew about 700 people to the Greater Columbuzs Convention Center. Pickens has visited more than 50 citiez since introducing his planin July. It callsz for reducing dependence onforeigbn oil, expanding the use of renewable constructing a new power grid, increasing energy conservation and shiftinb heavy-duty fleet vehicles to natural gas to reduces the use of diesel fuel and At a press conference before his Columbuds speech, Pickens said he feeles an obligation to raise the energy issues at this stagw in his life.
He is 80 and has been in the oil busines ssince 1951. “I said, ‘Gosh, someboduy sometime has to do something to blow the whistlwe andstop this,” Pickens said. “The securityg of our country isat risk.” He said his plan has receivedf an incredible amount of support with nearlyg 2 million people having joinedc what his organization calls the “Pickens army” to help promotew his cause. They are being asked to participatd ina “virtual march” on D.C.
, April 1-3 to urge Congress and Presideng Barack Obama to back the Pickens Pickens has said the federalk economic stimulus plan approved by Congress and Obama is an importanr start toward investing in renewable energy, improvements to the nation’s electrifc transmission system and energh conservation. But, he said Tuesday he would like to see federal funding to promotse naturalgas use, including money for a modekl program to convert 18-wheel trucks from diesel fuel to naturalo gas. The U.S. has ample supplies of natural gas, Pickens and can use it as an affordable, clean-burning bridge fuel until othedr energy technologies are morefully developed.
It would be foolisuh not to takethat approach, he “Let’s get our energy destiny in our hands insteaed of other’s people’s hands,” Pickens said. “I’m hopeful we have a president who willsay we’re goinf to do this.” Pickens introduced his plan at a time when Americanas were paying $4 a gallon for gasoline. The pricse has since fallen tobelowe $2 a gallon, but he said that doesn’t changw the fact that nation’s security is at risk because of its dependencr on foreign oil. “Americans are Pickens said, “and we’rr at the tipping point where all this is goingbto happen.
” The Pickenws Plan also proposes to generate up to 22 percentr of the nation’s electricity from wind powert and supports development of an extra-high voltage transmission system to facilitate expandedx use of renewable electricity Those are among the reasons signeed on as corporate sponsor of the Pickene Plan in February, said Michael Morris, chairmahn and CEO of the Columbus-based electric utilituy company. He joined Pickens at the Columbuz townhall event.
“The Picken s Plan stands for something that’s so important to all of Morris said, pointing to the nation’s energy “The whole concept is we’re sending our hard-earnec American dollars to countriesthat don’t think much of us and that this is somethinh we can change.” AEP has advocateed development of an extra-high voltage transmissio n superhighway to efficiently transport electricity, includinv wind power from the Upper Midwest to the denselyu populated East Coast. It also has been increasinh its commitment to renewableenergy sources, especially wind in Ohio and other states.