In his State of the Union Address on January 24, President Barack Obama announced an energy blueprint for the U.S. calling for an “all-of-the-above strategy that develops every available source of American energy.”

He called on Congress to begin reducing dependence on foreign oil by encouraging use of American natural gas to fuel vehicles, bolster domestic manufacturing of batteries that power electric cars, and by passing a “clean energy standard” for the power generation sector.

Since the President made this announcement, the United States has imported 239 million barrels, or 59 percent of its oil supply, at a cost of $26.5 billion.

T. Boone Pickens, whose “Pickens Plan” has been at the forefront of efforts to reduce dependence on OPEC oil since 2008, said: “We are the world’s largest energy consumer, yet for 40 years in this country we have not had an energy plan, and our dependence on OPEC oil has risen to catastrophic levels. The President has put forward a plan, it is now up to Congress to prove they are serious and take action to begin reducing OPEC oil imports immediately.

“We cannot wait any further – we’re at the end of the road, and every day Congress fails to act costs our country a billion dollars,” Pickens said. “Congress needs to know the public is going to hold their feet to the fire. If they can’t come together to make America stronger and safer, they will find leaders who will.”

Over the past three years, domestic natural gas has become a key element of efforts to reduce our reliance on OPEC oil. The development of shale gas throughout the United States has increased reserves to over 100 years. For years, Pickens has called the U.S “the Saudi Arabia of natural gas.”

The core focus of the Pickens Plan is to expand the use of American natural gas as a heavy duty transportation fuel alternative to OPEC oil/diesel/gasoline, a cause embraced by President Obama during his recent energy speech in Las Vegas.

“We have the most natural gas in the world, at the lowest price in the world,” Pickens said. “On a gallon-equivalent basis, natural gas is $1.50 per gallon cheaper than diesel. With over-the-road 18 wheelers using 20,000 to 30,000 gallons a year, it is easy to see where Washington should focus its efforts.”

The U.S. House and Senate each have legislation with bipartisan and presidential support before them that would provide fully-paid-for tax credits to owners of heavy duty trucks, express delivery vehicles, buses and taxis, as well as refuge and recycling trucks to replace their vehicles burning imported diesel with trucks and cars running on domestic natural gas.

“Natural gas is cheaper, it is cleaner, it is abundant, and it is ours,” Pickens said. “We are watching to see if the Congress will do its job and help build a vital industry.”