T. Boone Pickens urged a national TV audience “to get on America’s resources.” Pickens, who was being interviewed by Jane Wells on CNBC’s Fast Money earlier this week at the National Clean Energy Summit in Las Vegas, pointed out that the United States has three times as much natural gas as Saudi Arabia has oil. Yet these enormous reserves are severely underutilized. “It’s almost like you don’t know it,” Pickens said.

Pickens also reminded viewers that while on the campaign trail, President Obama pledged to put an end to importing oil from the Middle East. “I was very hopeful when President Obama accepted the nomination back in 2008 and said in 10 years we will not import any oil from the Mideast. But two years have passed and he’s never mentioned it again.”

Read the entire CNBC story and watch T. Boone Pickens on Fast Money HERE.

Pickens: Nat Gas Is the Way Off OPEC Oil – CNBC – 9/7/10

Renewable Energy Touted At Nevada Policy ‘Summit’ – Associated Press – 9/7/10

Supporters Rally Outside NV Clean Energy ‘Summit’ – Associated Press – 9/7/10

Experts, Lawmakers Talk Clean Energy In Vegas – Associated Press – 9/7/10

‘Fast Money’ Recap: Selloff Plays – The Street – 9/7/10

Nevadans Rally for “Jobs that Stick Around” at Clean Energy Summit – Public News Service – 9/8/10

Tom Petrie: Global Gas Cartel Remains Years Into The Horizon – Oil & Gas Investor Blog – 9/7/10

Devon Energy (DVN): Follow Boone Pickens – iStockAnalyst – 9/7/10

Army:

Today, Boone is participating in the National Clean Energy Summit 3.0: Investing in American Jobs event on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with U.S. Senator Harry Reid and the Center for American Progress Action Fund.

Boone will participate in a town hall event starting at 4:00 pm PDT that we will be streamed live on our website at the following link:

http://www.pickensplan.com/energysummit

The entire event will be streamed all day at that same link – you can click here to view the agenda.

Tune in if you can!

-Team Pickens

Each week we’ll be reporting on some of the activities of our army members across the country. If you are interested in getting involved in your state, visit the State and District Leaders page here: http://www.pickensplan.com/district-leaderboard/

Legislative Update

The total number of co-sponsors for the NAT GAS Act (HR 1835): 146 Members of Congress
Is your Member of Congress a co-sponsor? Find out here: http://www.pickensplan.com/inyourstate

Highlights

• Arizona State Leader Dave Clement is requesting that his 1,500 “CNG for AZ” newsletter subscribers call for their elected officials to identify what their plan is to reduce or dependency on foreign oil.
• California District Leader Lawrence Murray reports the following about his contacts with Congressman Dan Lungren (CA-03) and Ami Bera (Lungren’s challenger). “I sent emails and called both campaigns. Dan Lungren’s office is not sure of his stance, I have asked to talk to him several times without response. Response from Dr. Ami Bera: “Dr. Bera absolutely supports investments in wind, solar, and other forms of renewable energy! Dr. Bera believes that supporting renewable energy is vital, both to protect our planet, and to reinvigorate our economy by creating new, clean manufacturing jobs. If you’d like to read more about Dr. Bera’s commitment to clean energy, you can take a look at our energy plan, available at http://www.beraforcongress.com/pages/energy.”
• California State Leaders John Nobles and Wayne Bowser are requesting that all elected officials identify what their plan is to reduce or dependency on foreign oil. They use their radio show and Facebook as their platform. They will also be attending the energy summit in Nevada on Tuesday.
• Idaho District Leader Jeremy Boggess continues to campaign for a State Senate seat and is placing fliers and talking about the Pickens Plan in Northern Idaho.
• Illinois District Leader Tully Davia has contacted Press Aide Nathanial Zimmer in Rep. Daniel Lipinski’s office. The aide said that Congressman Lipinski will support any bill w/ nat gas measures as long as no cap and trade is attached.
• Minnesota State Leader Melissa Steichen reports that her meeting with Representative Oberstar was canceled last week. However, Melissa will be attending a barbecue on Tuesday, September 7 with Representative James Oberstar, Senator Amy Klobuchar, Senator Al Franken, MN State Senator Yvonne Prettner Solan and MN Gubernatorial candidate Mark Dayton. She plans to discuss the NAT GAS Act with as many of them as possible.
• Missouri State Leader Cheryl Rowland reports that she received a return call from Representative Todd Akin’s office regarding the NAT GAS Act. Staffer Jim Midas stated that Mr. Akin is very much a supporter of alternative energy, but as of right now he is waiting to see the proposal when it comes to the Science Committee, of which he is a member. The staffer also stated that he really didn’t know much about the Pickens Plan, so Cheryl gave him the website to look at and told him that if Mr. Akin or the staffer had any questions to please feel free to contact her.
• Missouri State Leader Cheryl Rowland also spoke to a staffer at Senator Claire McCaskill’s office and reports that she is still concerned about using natural gas and how it will affect the price for heating homes and, of great importance to her, agriculture.
• New York District Leader David Elia sent an email about the NAT GAS Act to Governor Patterson and Senators Schumer and Gillibrand.
• Ohio District Leader Jim Lewis has been interviewed on WSTB radio in Streetsboro OH, on clean energy technology and the Pickens Plan.
• Ohio State Leader Veronica Gold continues to schedule media appearances and is currently working on television spots.
• Other Ohio members are still working on logistics to schedule the WKBN-AM interview shortly before Boone’s town hall in Cleveland.
• Regional Leader Ed Matricardi circulated talking points and a questionnaire to state directors and is working with them to generate feedback from Members of Congress and other congressional candidates about their position on the NAT GAS Act.
• Pennsylvania State Director Mike Johnston emailed every state, local and federal candidate to determine their position on the Pickens Plan and reported back with responses from 9 elected officials and candidates, including Congressman Joe Sestak, who is the Democratic nominee for US Senate and the Chief of Staff to the PA House Majority Republican Caucus. They want to work with us to implement a 4-point state energy plan.
• Pennsylvania State Director Mike Johnston is finalizing arrangements to organize a visible presence at the Central PA Marcellus Shale Job Fair on September 11, 2010 (it was originally scheduled for August 27 - 28, 2010). Mike has requested collateral materials to distribute at event and he may also host a screening of the movie Haynesville at the job fair.
• Pennsylvania State Director Mike Johnston also started a group page on push.pickensplan.com to keep Pennsylvania Army members up to date on which of the state’s candidates have expressed support for the Pickens Plan.
• Pennsylvania State Director Mike Johnston received the following response from Jim Gerlach’s campaign manager about whether or not he supports the Pickens Plan: “Jim generally supports the Pickens Plan and has voted on numerous bills to move our country toward energy independence. He also believes the Plan should go farther by supporting initiatives for implementation of clean coal technology and expansion of nuclear power.”

Want to get involved in your State? Click here: http://www.pickensplan.com/district-leaderboard/

Equity and Philanthropy – Fort Worth Weekly – 9/1/10

Back on the Radar: Chesapeake Energy – Seeking Alpha – 9/1/10

40 Billionaires Make A Difference – MyHighSchoolJournalism.org – 9/2/10

Reid Hopeful For GOP Energy Votes After Elections – Reuters – 8/31/10

Reid Puts Renewables Mandate In Play, Eyes Lame-Duck Energy Bill – The Hill Energy & Environment Blog – 8/31/10

US Senate Majority Leader To Pursue Narrow Energy Bill This Year – Platts – 8/31/10

Judge Denies Cabbies’ Request For Injunction Against Dallas Ordinance That Gives CNG Cabs A Break At Love Field – Dallas Morning News – 9/1/10

Natural Gas Taxis Going To The Front Of The Line At Love Field – Dallas Morning News City Hall Blog – 8/31/10

We Should Pay To Shut Down Dirty Old Coal Plants – Grist – 8/31/10

Army:

Last week I emailed you about sending a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. We’ve got to keep letting our U.S. Representatives and Senators know we want a plan to replace OPEC oil with domestic natural gas. So to keep the pressure on, this week I have another request.

I’m launching the “What’s Your Plan?” petition. I’m calling it that because I want to know where every single Member of Congress, as well as candidates for U.S. House and Senate seats, stands when it comes to supporting legislation such as the NAT GAS Act.

Whether or not you have submitted a letter to the editor, I urge you to take 2 seconds to sign the petition, and then share it with your family and friends via Facebook, Twitter and/or email. We’ve got to spread the word far and wide - quickly - before Congress reconvenes after recess.

Let’s keep the pressure on. To sign the petition today, click here: http://www.pickensplan.com/whatsyourplan/

-Boone

Army:

Boone is coming to Las Vegas on Tuesday, September 7 to participate in the National Clean Energy Summit 3.0: Investing in American Jobs event hosted by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, the Center for American Progress Action Fund and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. You may recall Boone participated in this even for the past two summers and it’s always exciting and informative.

National Clean Energy Summit 3.0: Investing in American Jobs will focus on investment and access to capital for emerging clean energy technologies and companies and brings together energy industry leaders, policy experts, investors, and public officials along with citizens and the media to address this critical issue.

Once again the event is being held at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Cox Pavilion on September 7, 2010 and runs from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. Boone will join Senator Harry Reid at 4:00 pm for a Clean Energy Town Hall event moderated by Maria Silva from KVBC Channel 3.

You can learn more about the event and register for it by clicking here: http://cleanenergysummit.org/

We hope to see you there!

Team Pickens

Each week we’ll be reporting on some of the activities of our army members across the country. If you are interested in getting involved in your state, visit the State and District Leaders page here: http://www.pickensplan.com/district-leaderboard/

Legislative Update

The total number of co-sponsors for the NAT GAS Act (HR 1835): 146 Members of Congress
Is your Member of Congress a co-sponsor? Find out here: http://www.pickensplan.com/inyourstate

Highlights

• Arizona State Leader Dave Clement: “We sent out the question to all our Arizona Congressional Delegates. We have Cathy Eden running for Senate from Arizona committed to the NAT GAS Act. For House candidates we have so far AZ Dist 1 Sydney Hay, AZ Dist 2 John Thrasher, AZ Dist 4 Rebecca DeWitt, AZ Dist 5 Susan Bitter Smith (Susan said she spent quite a bit of time with the AGA), and AZ Dist 6 Rebecca Schneider. Thanks!”
• Arizona State Leader Dave Clement has been emailing the LTE message to district members, elected officials and also to his list of customers and has been posting on Facebook as well. He also talked with Steve Stoltz, the candidate for US House in AZ District 8 and got him to join the Pickens Plan on Facebook.
• California Leaders John Nobles and Wayne Bowser have been focusing on the candidates as well. They hosted Representative Jerry Lewis CA-41 on their radio show last week. Though Representative Jerry Lewis has not signed on as a co-sponsor, he is a supporter of Natural Gas but has concerns about cap and trade. Representative Lewis was a speaker at an event at the Cocky Bull (!) in Victorville, California. John and Wayne attended, as did about 600 others. Representative Lewis publicly spoke about our need to get off foreign oil and specifically mentioned natural gas as an alternative fuel that will help get us there.
• Colorado Army Member Richard Cummings: “We made this morning’s editorial page in The Longmont Times Call newspaper.”
• Florida State Leader Jeff Greene addressed the Palm Beach City Council about the Pickens Plan and convinced them to place a national gas fueling station in the city.
• Florida Army Member Thomas Ferris: “U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite has emailed me back saying she is for Natural Gas. She is retiring after this term in office.”
• Hawaii Army Member Richard Ferguson: “T. Boone: I have received letters from Senators Akaka and Inouye indicating support for the natural gas “bridge”. However, their support was seemingly only in the context of all the other green energy stuff.”
• Jeremy Boggess (ID–01) continues to campaign for an Idaho State Senate seat and mentions the Pickens Plan frequently, and also places fliers around local/regional communities.
• New York Army Member Frederick Rovente: “Boone, I have been posting in our local paper for almost 3 years now on the benefits of natural gas. Andrew Cuomo will not define his position on natural gas. He visited Ithaca which is the mecca of anti-drilling in New York state. I have a farm on the NY/PA border, and I can almost see a well from my porch, yet, we cannot drill or lease because it is NY.”
• North Carolina Army Member Bill Miller: “Mike McIntyre our local congressman says he supports using more natural gas to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.”
• North Carolina State Director Andrew Rauly followed up an energy questionnaire that he was circulating to every member of the North Carolina delegation (in both parties) regarding the NAT GAS Act and the Pickens Plan.
• Ohio State Leader Veronica Gold attended the GEI event on 8/23 and was introduced to Rep. Charlie Wilson by District Leader Jim Lewis. She had a lengthy discussion with the Congressman regarding the Pickens Plan. Ohio District Leader Jim Pirko also had a conference call with Congressman Wilson, and he announced his plan to become a co-sponsor of HR 1835 on September 14th, upon return to DC.
• Ohio District Leader Jim Pirko has secured a guaranteed slot for a radio interview in morning programming on WKBN 570 am. They are scheduling dates to forward to TBPs scheduler at the present, in case he can make it.
• Army Member Marc Loring: “Mr. Pickens, I have been a loyal follower of your army since its conception. I also have been involved with green field wind farm projects with Moreland Sherrod in the Oklahoma/Texas panhandle. Two senators in the state of Colorado, which I now reside in the city of Boulder, are on board with the Pickens Plan. The two I refer too are Mr. Mark Udall, and Mr. Bennett. I have sent them numerous e-mails as per your instructions over the last several years, and they are both in agreement with your plan, as Colorado is a existing natural gas state, and very pro active on alternative energy, mainly solar and the wind industry. I also own a family farm/ranch in the Oklahoma panhandle just north of Guymon, and am a huge supporter of the wind industry, and natural gas industry to get America off foreign mid east oil. Please keep up your vision Mr. Pickens, and efforts concerning America’s effort to be free of mid east oil dependency.”
• Oklahoma Army Member Rob Hunt: “Had a good conversation with potential congressman James Lankford, Oklahoma City. Keep up the good work!”
• Pennsylvania State Director Mike Johnston is finalizing arrangements to organize a visible presence at the Central PA Marcellus Shale Job Fair on September 11, 2010 (it was originally scheduled for August 27 - 28, 2010). Mike has requested collateral materials to distribute at event and he may also host a screening of the movie Haynesville at the job fair.
• South Carolina State Director Logan Berry followed up an energy questionnaire that he was circulating to every member of the South Carolina delegation (in both parties) regarding the NAT GAS Act and the Pickens Plan.
• Virginia State Director Clynton Caines and VA-04 DL Thomas Arrington held meetings on Capitol Hill with US Senators Mark Warner and Jim Webb to discuss to Pickens Plan on August 26, 2010. Both senators want to reduce our OPEC imports. They explained the points about tax incentives for fleets that convert to CNG. It was positive. From the discussion, they think that both Senators are supportive, but they were evasive about giving a decisive commitment.

Want to get involved in your State? Click here: http://www.pickensplan.com/district-leaderboard/

T. Boone Pickens: If Americans Don’t Ditch Middle East Oil They’ll Be ‘Dumbest Crowd’ Ever – ABC’s Green Right Now – 8/26/10

Can The U.S. Switch To Natural Gas? – Investopedia – 8/27/10

Our Colorado District Leader Scott Scharin attended the AREDAY Conference in Aspen over the weekend. Here’s his take on the conference and the panels that featured Boone.

The 7th American Renewable Energy Day was held this past weekend in Aspen, Colorado. The theme was “Creating a New Clean Energy Economy At Speed and Scale.” I couldn’t help but think that is exactly what the Pickens Plan is all about. I saw Mr. Pickens for the first time two years ago when he visited the Aspen Institute right after launching the Pickens Plan. Boone’s plan has certainly stood the test of time; while the economic collapse and political stalemate in Washington have forced some of the details to evolve overtime, the basic commonsense goals of national and economic security for America have remained.

Mr. Pickens was featured in two of the most exciting panel discussions of the weekend. The first panel was titled “Putting Wealth to Work in the New Clean Energy Economy.” Joining Mr. Pickens on stage was moderator and A.R.E. Co-Director Sally Ranney, Ted Turner (Turner Enterprises), Michael Polsky (Invenergy), Sam Wyly (Green Mountain Energy) and James Cameron (Director/Producer). The overriding sentiment seemed to be a great frustration at the lack of leadership in our federal government. Energy security is about national security, economic growth and environmental stewardship, all in one! It’s a shame Congress and the President can’t get past partisan bickering and see that. With that powerful group on stage, the audience was on the edge of their seats and the discussion could have gone on for much longer than the hour and a half that it did.

Saturday evening, Mr. Pickens teamed up with Ted Turner for an armchair conversation that was moderated by Thomas Friedman of the New York Times. Having these icons of American leadership together was incredibly interesting and provided some hope on our ability to move the needle forward.

I’m energized! Let’s get this done for Boone!

Scott Scharin
Aspen, Colorado
Pickens Plan CO-3rd District Leader

Want to get involved in your State? Click here: http://www.pickensplan.com/district-leaderboard/

Oil at $85 By The End Of The Year: Pickens – CNBC – 8/25/10

Tipton: Use Natural Gas In Vehicles – Grand Junction Sentinel – 8/25/10

Should We Just Pay Operators of Dirty Coal Plants to Shutter Them? – IEEE Spectrum – 8/24/10

T. Boone Pickens was a guest on CNBC’s “Squawkbox” program along with former NY Governor George Pataki. Interviewed by Becki Quick, Boone said “I’m confident we’re going to have an energy plan for America.” He said “the NAT GAS Act” in the House and Senate would cut our imports from OPEC in half. That can be done in seven years.”

Boone described the tax credit on how to achieve it. “We have a model for this,” he said. “In California the state provided a $50,000 per truck tax credit for trash and recycling trucks to move from diesel to natural gas.”

“In 20 years,” he said, “we’ll be on batteries, but natural gas is the transition fuel to get us off OPEC oil. A battery won’t move an 18-wheeler today.”

Governor Pataki reminded viewers that “when we talk about oil imports, it’s not for power generation; it’s for transportation. Seventy percent of the oil we import is used for transportation. Oil only provides about 20 percent of our power generation.”

Boone said he was looking for President Obama to “issue an executive order that all federal vehicles will have to run on domestic fuel. I’ve said right from the beginning that I’m for anything American.”

Boone said a huge portion of our trade deficit is oil imports and said we can’t sustain those kinds of imbalances.

“This will be an absolute home run for America; but you have to get started. Natural gas prices are just below $4. One Mcf of natural gas will do the same amount of work as seven gallons of diesel which is about $20. So, natural gas is about 20 percent of the cost of diesel and it’s domestic; it’s American.”

“This will come down to a serious patriotic issue before it’s over with. We’re funding both sides of the war. A great deal of the money we are sending to OPEC is ending up in the hands of the Taliban.”

When Boone was off the air, the studio guests said, “It really is more than an environmental issue and more than an economic issue. It’s a national security issue.”

Governor Pataki said “Oil at $71 per barrel doesn’t include the enormous security costs that aren’t accounted for in that number.”

Maine’s Windmill Follies – Lewistown Sun Journal – 8/24/10

Pickens Laments That He Failed To Convince Bush And Obama To Take Iraq’s Oil – Think Progress – 8/24/10

Natural Gas: The Realistic Choice – Investing Daily – 8/23/10

Relying On Alternative Fuels Is The Natural Thing To Do – Aspen Daily News – 8/21/10

Pickens Urged Bush To Take Iraq’s Oil – Aspen Daily News – 8/23/10

Pickens, Turner Push Gas At Confab – Grand Junction Sentinel – 8/22/10

Lignite Did Not Dodge A Bullet – Bismarck Tribune – 8/23/10

Huge Names In Aspen For Renewable Energy Talks – CBS 4 Denver – 8/22/10

Is Now the Time to Buy Natural Gas Stocks? – TickerSpy – 8/23/10

Irrational Optimism At Age 84 – AnnArbor.com – 8/23/10