Well - I've also hear this dude is trying to buy up land in Oklahoma in order to own areas that have water reserves. Possibly using that to his advantage. Also noticing on the viral march- http://www.pickensplan.com/virtualmarch/twitter.php?signin=false that COAL is mentioned as one of the ways to get out of oil dependencies. However, coal is one of the major contributors to greenhouse gases! HM. Not sure if I trust the guy...we'll see...cool campaign using social media, though.

So he is using oil money to invest in alternative energy. So what? Is their a better way to use that money? I think not. He is using his billions to move green efforts in America forward...what would his critics rather have him do with his money? Fancy cars and vacation homes? More drilling? I wish all the oil millionaires would use their fortunes and and reach to drive renewables forward. LeHauser is a hater.

You may have a point- however, I think we need to think about the plan he's putting forth- yes it's better than the other world you do such a good job of describing, but he's focus is on natural gas...not exactly the most 'green' of all the renewable s. Nor is COAL. I just think we have other options, and he's a billionaire man. But- I guess I would need to read more about the guy. Are you his 'youth' consultant on this project or something? You seem to know all the right things to say...jeez

for jumping to conclusions. I think we all need face facts: this is going to take time. Sure T-Boone's solution's aren't perfect, but we can't let the prospects of better options become a paralysis on progress. We need aggressive action now. We can learn from our mistakes, improve our technology, and continue to adjust. If change is going to happen, it's going to happen on practical terms, not idealistic ones. T beezy is off the heezy. FeedThem out.

On idealists. I'm not an idealist, I'm just advocating for the voices of those people who aren't heard. T-Boone has a crap ton of money to peddle his thoughts and ideas and "plans" to the world. He's the one that can do it. What about the millions of Americans who live next to coal plants? What about the billions on the planet who get toxic waste dumped into their water systems? What about the people that don't get heard when their kids get asthma and other medical ailments, can't pay their medical bills, and are screwed because of the toxic waste dumps near their homes? T Boone has all the money in the world to convince everyone how "right" his plans are. I agree with you, change should come from these people too- but until both sides garner this much attention and actually sit down to talk, then I'll support it 100% . Thanks for your time, lehauser, out!

We absolutely need to fight the battle of placing power influence back where it belongs: with the people. However, the issue of inequality predates our energy crisis and will live well beyond it. Ever since humans have been organized, there has been inequality. We have to be realistic. Our system is flawed, but it is the only one we have, and the energy crisis can't wait. The people you described suffering at the hands of irresponsible industries prove the point, we need solutions now. We cannot ensure the process is perfect, but we can ensure an outcome that improves their circumstance. Sitting around and arguing the best of course of action has a time and a place, but that time has passed. Let's not lose our way in details and process and lets fundamentally change our circumstances. We will make mistakes along the way and learn lessons, it will not be easy and quick. But we can't learn from mistakes we don't make. We can't enjoy new technologies we don't try. We can't help people who are suffering by doing what has always been done.

...in this age of tight fisted policies and general lack of flexibility when it comes to finance, I think that the move to renewable energy sources can take all of the dollar power it can get. When companies are struggling just to pay for their energy expenses and stay in business, extraneous spending above and beyond the costs of every day management will be put off indefinitely. Though I definitely question Picken's motives and really wouldn't support coal (or natural gas) being painted as part of the future of renewable energy, I am at least glad the cause isn't being put totally on pause.

Natural gas usage is not the solution for our dependence on foreign oil. The only real solution is to use hemp for biodiesel. It can solve 100% of our energy problems by using only 6% of US soil. By using 6% of US soil to cultivate Hemp for biomass we can be a self sustaining nation for energy. That means green energy for the entire US. Green jobs for millions of US people. Plus all the money STAYS in the US, no more foreign oil. Everyone will be buying energy from us not the other way around. T. Boone Pickens should be putting his money into legalizing the cultivation of Hemp NOT other renewables. For those of you that will say it will destroy our farm land, Hemp makes soil better putting nutrients back into the soil. So support hemp as the ONLY renewable energy source that will work.

I haven't read Pickens' Plan and so I can't honestly speak intelligently about it. However, from what I have seen, it seems like a stop-gap. I don't entirely trust the guy, but I don't want to write him off entirely just because he made his fortune in oil. We need to move forward with some type of comprehensive energy plan and we need to start acting fast. My suggestion would be to invest $10 billion into federally funded R and D, like we did with the Manhattan Project. If we gathered the top minds from around the world, we could feasible come up with a viable solution before the end of the Obama administration...it's possible. We just need to put our minds to it.