Comments on: The One-Track Mind of T. Boone Pickens http://washingtonindependent.com/36881/the-one-track-mind-of-t-boone-pickens National News in Context Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:18:25 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Don Cornwell http://washingtonindependent.com/36881/the-one-track-mind-of-t-boone-pickens/comment-page-1#comment-36851 Don Cornwell Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:12:08 +0000 http://washingtonindependent.com/?p=36881#comment-36851 Our dependence on foreign oil is not only a security issue but also an economic time-bomb, waiting to explode on us with the next oil price shock (currently on hold for the present economic crisis). There is much hand-wringing now over the huge federal deficits, but our trade deficit is just as dangerous as both act to pressure the value of our currency. If oil returns to $150/bbl or greater, our massive imports of it will result in as much as a trillion dollars leaving the country every year. THAT is the money that would have been used to research and deploy the carbon-free solution for trucks that we all agree is the end game. That is also the money needed to solve the rest of global warming and fix health care and education. An immediate investment in CNG will have much greater returns later in solving our bigger issues. Our dependence on foreign oil is not only a security issue but also an economic time-bomb, waiting to explode on us with the next oil price shock (currently on hold for the present economic crisis). There is much hand-wringing now over the huge federal deficits, but our trade deficit is just as dangerous as both act to pressure the value of our currency. If oil returns to $150/bbl or greater, our massive imports of it will result in as much as a trillion dollars leaving the country every year. THAT is the money that would have been used to research and deploy the carbon-free solution for trucks that we all agree is the end game. That is also the money needed to solve the rest of global warming and fix health care and education. An immediate investment in CNG will have much greater returns later in solving our bigger issues.

]]> By: Don Cornwell http://washingtonindependent.com/36881/the-one-track-mind-of-t-boone-pickens/comment-page-1#comment-24305 Don Cornwell Fri, 03 Apr 2009 09:12:08 +0000 http://washingtonindependent.com/?p=36881#comment-24305 Our dependence on foreign oil is not only a security issue but also an economic time-bomb, waiting to explode on us with the next oil price shock (currently on hold for the present economic crisis). There is much hand-wringing now over the huge federal deficits, but our trade deficit is just as dangerous as both act to pressure the value of our currency. If oil returns to $150/bbl or greater, our massive imports of it will result in as much as a trillion dollars leaving the country every year. THAT is the money that would have been used to research and deploy the carbon-free solution for trucks that we all agree is the end game. That is also the money needed to solve the rest of global warming and fix health care and education. An immediate investment in CNG will have much greater returns later in solving our bigger issues. Our dependence on foreign oil is not only a security issue but also an economic time-bomb, waiting to explode on us with the next oil price shock (currently on hold for the present economic crisis). There is much hand-wringing now over the huge federal deficits, but our trade deficit is just as dangerous as both act to pressure the value of our currency. If oil returns to $150/bbl or greater, our massive imports of it will result in as much as a trillion dollars leaving the country every year. THAT is the money that would have been used to research and deploy the carbon-free solution for trucks that we all agree is the end game. That is also the money needed to solve the rest of global warming and fix health care and education. An immediate investment in CNG will have much greater returns later in solving our bigger issues.

]]> By: Pickens Plan Media Coverage 4.2.09 | Sustainability In Business http://washingtonindependent.com/36881/the-one-track-mind-of-t-boone-pickens/comment-page-1#comment-24296 Pickens Plan Media Coverage 4.2.09 | Sustainability In Business Fri, 03 Apr 2009 08:04:00 +0000 http://washingtonindependent.com/?p=36881#comment-24296 [...] The One-Track Mind of T. Boone Pickens – The Washington Independent – 4/1/09 Lauro Bustamante, Mayoral Candidate – San Antonio Current – 4/1/09 [...] [...] The One-Track Mind of T. Boone Pickens – The Washington Independent – 4/1/09 Lauro Bustamante, Mayoral Candidate – San Antonio Current – 4/1/09 [...]

]]> By: peter http://washingtonindependent.com/36881/the-one-track-mind-of-t-boone-pickens/comment-page-1#comment-24208 peter Thu, 02 Apr 2009 17:55:17 +0000 http://washingtonindependent.com/?p=36881#comment-24208 Pickens is pretty awsome, a true patriot. I think anyone that hasnt - needs to go and check out his plans for our country. <a href="http://www.pickeneplan.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.pickeneplan.com</a> <br>or his life story at <a href="http://www.tboonpickens.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.tboonpickens.com</a> This guy is a true American. Pickens is pretty awsome, a true patriot. I think anyone that hasnt – needs to go and check out his plans for our country. http://www.pickeneplan.com
or his life story at http://www.tboonpickens.com This guy is a true American.

]]> By: The Washington Independent » The One-Track Mind of T. Boone Pickens | PetroleumArea.Com http://washingtonindependent.com/36881/the-one-track-mind-of-t-boone-pickens/comment-page-1#comment-24146 The Washington Independent » The One-Track Mind of T. Boone Pickens | PetroleumArea.Com Thu, 02 Apr 2009 05:00:36 +0000 http://washingtonindependent.com/?p=36881#comment-24146 [...] Read the rest here:  The Washington Independent » The One-Track Mind of T. Boone Pickens [...] [...] Read the rest here:  The Washington Independent » The One-Track Mind of T. Boone Pickens [...]

]]> By: Aaron Wiener http://washingtonindependent.com/36881/the-one-track-mind-of-t-boone-pickens/comment-page-1#comment-24142 Aaron Wiener Thu, 02 Apr 2009 02:11:19 +0000 http://washingtonindependent.com/?p=36881#comment-24142 "very long term, post-2050"<br>I'm sure you realize that's WAY to late to make significant changes to our climate policy. I appreciate the value of Mr. Pickens' work, but I believe his approach is rather narrow, at least as he elaborated it today. “very long term, post-2050″
I'm sure you realize that's WAY to late to make significant changes to our climate policy. I appreciate the value of Mr. Pickens' work, but I believe his approach is rather narrow, at least as he elaborated it today.

]]> By: Aaron Wiener http://washingtonindependent.com/36881/the-one-track-mind-of-t-boone-pickens/comment-page-1#comment-24141 Aaron Wiener Thu, 02 Apr 2009 02:07:49 +0000 http://washingtonindependent.com/?p=36881#comment-24141 Jason,<br><br>Thanks for the note. Natural gas is indeed much cleaner than oil, and if we managed to replace all of our oil-based fuel with natural gas, it would be a huge step forward. But it still wouldn't be enough. Transportation only generates about a quarter of our greenhouse gas emissions. Without major changes to other areas of our economy (such as industry) and improvements in efficiency, we can't get near our emissions reductions targets.<br><br>So while I agree that natural gas is a big improvement over oil, I take issue with Mr. Pickens' stance that emphasizes the shift to natural gas over all else.<br><br>Hope that clarifies a bit,<br>Aaron Jason,

Thanks for the note. Natural gas is indeed much cleaner than oil, and if we managed to replace all of our oil-based fuel with natural gas, it would be a huge step forward. But it still wouldn't be enough. Transportation only generates about a quarter of our greenhouse gas emissions. Without major changes to other areas of our economy (such as industry) and improvements in efficiency, we can't get near our emissions reductions targets.

So while I agree that natural gas is a big improvement over oil, I take issue with Mr. Pickens' stance that emphasizes the shift to natural gas over all else.

Hope that clarifies a bit,
Aaron

]]> By: ajm8127 http://washingtonindependent.com/36881/the-one-track-mind-of-t-boone-pickens/comment-page-1#comment-24130 ajm8127 Thu, 02 Apr 2009 00:08:10 +0000 http://washingtonindependent.com/?p=36881#comment-24130 I agree with the other posts in that natural gas is great as a short term replacement for oil in terms of both environmental friendliness and energy independence. The caveat is that we must move to other sources in the long term. Unfortunately, I do not believe Boone can be trusted given his wealth and his age, and I really wish they would limit his clout in the decision making process. I agree with the other posts in that natural gas is great as a short term replacement for oil in terms of both environmental friendliness and energy independence. The caveat is that we must move to other sources in the long term. Unfortunately, I do not believe Boone can be trusted given his wealth and his age, and I really wish they would limit his clout in the decision making process.

]]> By: Dave Huntsman http://washingtonindependent.com/36881/the-one-track-mind-of-t-boone-pickens/comment-page-1#comment-24119 Dave Huntsman Wed, 01 Apr 2009 20:58:10 +0000 http://washingtonindependent.com/?p=36881#comment-24119 Aaron -<br><br><i>But in the long run, simply moving us from one fossil fuel to another is not much of a climate solution.<//i><br><br>I believe you're missing one of his basic points (I'll note where I disagree with Pickens below): <br>We're not talking about the very long term, post-2050. We're talking now. And it turns out that the technology is already here that would:<br>- significantly start reducing imported oil sooner, not later.<br>- is cleaner, and less carbon intensive.<br>- is in America domestically.<br><br>Natural gas is a great transition fuel; and we have a lot more natural gas in the U.S. (and more is able to be extracted all the time), than we have oil. We have in no way peaked in natural gas inside the U.S., unlike oil. And the technology for diesel engines has really been perfected the last ten years; one of the reasons the port of Los Angeles felt comfortable in going ahead with the requirements that most of the trucks using the ports over the next few years must be alternative fuel vehicles, most of it natural gas. <br>Boone's concentration on trucks is also correct, when you look at the usage. <br><br>I'm' an aerospace engineer; I love all (well, almost all) technology. But almost all hybrids are still burning petroleum-based fuels; affordable electric vehicles are not only not here yet - or even a couple of years away - they are not really applicable at all with respect to the huge amount of fuel petroleum fuels burned by trucks.<br><br>I don't agree with Boone that it is only a national security and balance of trade issue. But if his nagging and evangelizing can change our policies so that transition to (U.S. based, cleaner) natural gas is given as much - or more - priority to longer-term EVs, he'll end up doing more good than he knows. <br><br><i>Pickens kept changing the subject to discuss his favorite topic (and, he hopes, source of future wealth</i><br><br>That's unfortunate. Look, the guy is in his 80s, and already a billionaire. I follow this area; and the only reason we have a natural gas fueling infrastructure and advanced ng-diesel engines ready right now that we do is partly to this guy having been investing in them with his own money since the '90s. I believe he deserves a little more seriousness than the occasional snarky comment; you aren't that am on the subject, in my view.<br>Cheers.<br><br><br><br><br>fyi: I have no financial interest at stake here. Unfortunately.</i> Aaron -

But in the long run, simply moving us from one fossil fuel to another is not much of a climate solution.<//i>

I believe you're missing one of his basic points (I'll note where I disagree with Pickens below):
We're not talking about the very long term, post-2050. We're talking now. And it turns out that the technology is already here that would:
- significantly start reducing imported oil sooner, not later.
- is cleaner, and less carbon intensive.
- is in America domestically.

Natural gas is a great transition fuel; and we have a lot more natural gas in the U.S. (and more is able to be extracted all the time), than we have oil. We have in no way peaked in natural gas inside the U.S., unlike oil. And the technology for diesel engines has really been perfected the last ten years; one of the reasons the port of Los Angeles felt comfortable in going ahead with the requirements that most of the trucks using the ports over the next few years must be alternative fuel vehicles, most of it natural gas.
Boone's concentration on trucks is also correct, when you look at the usage.

I'm' an aerospace engineer; I love all (well, almost all) technology. But almost all hybrids are still burning petroleum-based fuels; affordable electric vehicles are not only not here yet – or even a couple of years away – they are not really applicable at all with respect to the huge amount of fuel petroleum fuels burned by trucks.

I don't agree with Boone that it is only a national security and balance of trade issue. But if his nagging and evangelizing can change our policies so that transition to (U.S. based, cleaner) natural gas is given as much – or more – priority to longer-term EVs, he'll end up doing more good than he knows.

Pickens kept changing the subject to discuss his favorite topic (and, he hopes, source of future wealth

That's unfortunate. Look, the guy is in his 80s, and already a billionaire. I follow this area; and the only reason we have a natural gas fueling infrastructure and advanced ng-diesel engines ready right now that we do is partly to this guy having been investing in them with his own money since the '90s. I believe he deserves a little more seriousness than the occasional snarky comment; you aren't that am on the subject, in my view.
Cheers.

fyi: I have no financial interest at stake here. Unfortunately.

]]> By: Jason http://washingtonindependent.com/36881/the-one-track-mind-of-t-boone-pickens/comment-page-1#comment-24115 Jason Wed, 01 Apr 2009 19:55:40 +0000 http://washingtonindependent.com/?p=36881#comment-24115 Throwing oil and natural gas in the same boat by labeling fossil fuels is misleading. Look at how clean natural gas is. Pickens is right and you need to do more research. Throwing oil and natural gas in the same boat by labeling fossil fuels is misleading. Look at how clean natural gas is. Pickens is right and you need to do more research.

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