Pickens folks, There is a cost problem with getting my work truck on natural gas. The replacement cost in diesel of my work truck is 180,000.00. The cost of a natural gas truck is a 100,000.00 or more up charge. That is more than a 60 percent or so increase in cost. My work truck is an Elgin Street sweeper. Costs will need to be a lot better than that for natural gas operated trucks my friends.

Dear Frederick, You bring up a situation that is truly a BIG problem as our society is so dependent on oil. But WHAT IF your employer replaced your street sweeper with a NGV when it was time to be replaced? We COULD phase out the diesel/gasoline-burning engines in 10 years. All it would take is OUR COMMITMENT to do so. KEEP THE PRESSURE on the politicians!

tax incentives for converting to CNG is an option. Tax incentives for installing CNG refuel pumps at truckstops. tax incentives for investors to invest in truck manufacturers of CNG vehicles. opposition to lawmakers and represenatives in Washington of bailouts and spending taxpayer money without taxpayer approval

I sincerely hope we can get Washington to support an energy policy program to start the migration away from OIL to Natural GAS. Think about it, they can spend $750B in a weekend to help shore up "balance sheets" of banks, do you see any impact of this. Think about the progress that could be made with just $100B applied to trucks, buses, and my favorite trains. This can be part of the final solution migrating from OIL to NG and ultimately to hydrogen, hydrogen obtained from water via electrolysis via hydro, nuclear, and wind and NG. Jim P

I think tax incentives would be a great way to go. My fear is that, just as the solar energy tax incentives disappeared after the Carter Administration, the same might happen again.

I just attended a bio-fuels conference in Oklahoma City this week. I was surprised to learn that existing legislation has made available billions of dollars in tax credits, guarenteed loans and grants. The U.S. Department of Energy is ready to move out on alternative fuels; not just bio-fuels. I got the impression that if the major three auto makers get any Federal bail-out money there will be strings attached. Strings that force them to build cars and trucks that will run on alternative sources of energy. Just like Boone says; don't let this temporary drop in gasoline prices make you feel all warm and fuzzy. The prices will go back up and soon. Larry D. Farris

I really liked the statement Mr Pickens made to the audience "this isn't my problem, its yours... I can make it to the finish line." America is on the cusp of a great era. If you know where to look, you can see it. Yes we have many problems, but if we didn't, life sure would boring. Great job Boone.

WE MUST EMBRACE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IF WE ARE TO STAY RICH. The automobile costS us so much money beyond just imported oil. It clogs our roads and ruins transportation. We spend billions sitting in rush hour traffic. We need an effective convenient bus system. Americans think buses are only for the poor. This can change if buses are clean and have very flexible routs. If more people use buses then there can be more of them going more places more often. Philadelphia has done it. All of our major cities need to do it. Think of a private car service that pics you up at the end of your street 24/7. Think of real time GPS locations of the buses on your Iphone. AND THE CATCH... These buses can RUN ON NATURAL GAS. WE NEED TO STOP WASTING TRILLIONS ON AUTOMOBILES BECAUSE WE CAN'T PLAN A PUBLIC SYSTEM THAT WORKS.

Great job Boone, handling the host with poise and getting our views over. Tru Briggs