A new wind-power blade manufacturing plant that will create an estimated 1,000 jobs is in the works, according to Dallas-based Tang Energy. The company is gearing up to supply blades for a $1.5 billion Texas wind farm that was unveiled last month by U.S. and Chinese investors. Today’s announcement is only the latest indication of the many positive effects on the U.S. economy of developing domestic energy sources.

U.S. Renewable Energy Group (led by Dallas investor Cappy McGarr), A-Power Energy Generation Systems Ltd. of Shenyang, China, and Cielo Wind Power LP of Austin plan to build a wind farm capable of generating more than 600 megawatts of electricity on 36,000 acres of land. According to the Dallas Morning News, the project calls for 240 Chinese-made turbines and 720 blades, each 157 feet long. Most of the wind farm would be financed by Chinese investors, but the developers say they’ll ask the U.S. government to cover 30 percent of the $1.5 billion cost.

“Until now, we have made blades only in China, sold blades there, and imported only profits,” Tang CEO Patrick Jenevein III told the newspaper. “Now we’ve got a start to actually deliver blades into Texas, so effectively we’ll need to build a factory in the U.S.”

Site selection is already under way.

U.S. Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01), Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, will meet with energy pioneer T. Boone Pickens, and creator of the Pickens Plan, for a public forum at Goodwin College in East Hartford on Tuesday, Nov. 24 from 4-5:30pm.

“I am proud to welcome T. Boone Pickens and his mission for an independent energy future for our nation to Connecticut,” Congressman Larson. “Since the launch of the Pickens Plan, he has recruited millions of Americans to join in a goal that I completely support creating a new clean energy economy for America.”

The forum will take place at the River Campus of Goodwin College, a property that once housed an oil terminal. “Today,” Larson said, “Goodwin College is one of the fastest growing educational institutions in the state.”

The Pickens Plan focuses on reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil and encourages the development of alternative energy sources like wind and natural gas. Since its inception over a year ago, T. Boone Pickens has recruited millions of American citzens, corporations and businesses, as well as political leaders to actively join in the mission.

Congressman Larson, a member of the Select Committee for Energy Independence and Global Warming, is an original co-sponsor of the NAT GAS Act which Pickens supports. The legislation will make domestic natural gas a more accessible alternative to imported oil while decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and urban pollution in vehicles.

To RSVP or obtain further information about the town hall forum, please contact Congressman Larson’s office at 860-278-8888.

Who: U.S. Congressman John B. Larson; T. Boone Pickens, Creator of the Pickens Plan

What: Town Hall Forum on the Economy and Energy with T. Boone Pickens

When: Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009 4-5:30pm

Where: Goodwin College Auditorium, River Campus, One Riverside Drive, East Hartford, CT.

If you are in the Northeast please plan to come.  If you know someone in the area who might enjoy hearing Boone in person, please pass this information along to them.

– The Pickens Team

John Wesley Nobles, California State Leader

-Tell us a little about yourself

I am a former Mortgage Banker, and a California Real Estate Broker for over 35 years. I have been retired for about 6 years now.  During the past 2 years I just reconnected with my father’s side of the family.  His submarine, the USS Grunion which was missing in action in the Aleutians in 1942 was located in 2007, and as a result we reunited through the Internet.  I now am part of a large family, and have the family history dating back to 1806. This part of the story will likely be a movie someday.

-Why are you involved with the Pickens Plan?

I am involved with Pickens Plan because our national security is at stake…and in my opinion energy and the economy are the two most important issues that we as Americans face today.  Failure on these issues is not an option.  T. Boone Pickens convinced me early on that we have to get this done and get off foreign oil as quickly as possible.  T. Boone Pickens and 1.6 million highly motivated volunteers make it impossible to not be involved.  Every American Citizen should be working with Pickens Plan…it is a marvelous opportunity to give back to the country that we all love.

-Tell us about the things you have done to promote the Pickens Plan

Promoting the Pickens Plan is an honor and a privilege and it is something we can all do.  For me I get back more than I give.  Some of my minor contributions include getting Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-44) to sign the Pickens Plan Pledge, recruiting 132 Pickens Plan Members (that I know of), calling and writing politicians, media, etc.  So far I have called all 53 California Members of Congress, and many Senators and Members of Congress around the country.  My good friend, Wayne Bowser, the other California state leader and I both live in CA-41, and work together through his Green Revolution Show, and other ways to promote the Pickens Plan.  Wayne and I really enjoy our involvement in the army and hope our efforts will help to get our country off foreign oil.  Each of us is contributing by just joining Pickens, there is no charge, and we can do as much or as little as we like or are able.

-Share one idea for what you’d like to accomplish through your work with the Pickens Plan over the next three months

During the next 3 months I will continue reaching out to as many people as possible to assist in getting the NAT GAS Act passed, then hopefully before year’s end we can move forward with the rest of our agenda.  First, we have to get the NAT GAS Act made into law…this will likely take the next 2 months.  After the first of next year I hope we can diligently move the rest of our agenda forward.  It is nice knowing that 1.6 million people will be doing the same thing.  We are part of a great group of people! It is amazing, we come from many backgrounds, from all over the world,  yet we share this same interest.

“Meet the Army” is a series here on Daily Pickens featuring New Energy Army members and how they are making a difference by being involved in the Pickens Plan. Who knows, maybe we’ll see you here soon! Click here to join your State and District Groups and get involved.

Army.

We reached our goal of 120 bi-partisan cosponsors of the NAT GAS Act (H.R. 1835) way before 11/20.

Our efforts are having an impact!

You know the numbers on natural gas: 2,000 trillion cubic feet of reserves in the continental United States; more than 100 years worth — enough to fuel our heavy truck fleet, provide electrical power to our homes and businesses, plenty for cooking and heating, and more than enough remaining for other crucial uses like fertilizer and chemical production.

Congressmen Dan Boren (D-OK), John Sullivan (R-OK), and John Larson (D-CT) have shown true leadership in helping their colleagues to see how important passing the NAT GAS Act is to America’s energy future.

We are keeping the pressure on, and we’ve got our eye on the goal:  Get this bill passed in the House and the Senate, signed into law by President Obama, and begin reducing our dependence on foreign oil.

If you haven’t already, click here to email your Member of Congress today and ask them to cosponsor this important legislation.

Let’s keep this momentum going.

Boone

The matrix of the world’s energy supplies, distribution channels, usage patterns and pricing mechanisms has never been as complex as it is today. One person or group can have a massive impact on the price of oil or gas by the simple turn of a valve, in a remote area thousands of miles away from the intended destination. The power of these seven is measured not just in petro-dollars, but in the ability to change–for better or worse–the fundamental nature of the energy supply chain.

No. 1: Abdullah bin Abdulaziz

King, Saudi Arabia

As the world’s largest oil exporter, Saudi Arabia is the lead camel in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) caravan. When oil prices dipped down to $40 a barrel, Saudi Arabia was vocal in its call for $75 oil–meaning the 12 OPEC nations would agree to limit production forcing the prices of oil to that level. During October, oil was back at $80 a barrel. No other individual in the petro-world has the influence of King Abdullah and his oil ministers.

No. 2: Barack Obama

President, United States of America

The U.S. uses nearly a quarter of the world’s oil with 4% of its population. President Obama can end 40 years of increasing dependence on foreign oil by putting his stamp of approval on the New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions Act (or NAT GAS Act) which is making its way through the House and Senate. The NAT GAS Act promotes the use of natural gas powered vehicles through a combination of tax credits and by requiring the federal government to dramatically increase the size of its natural gas powered fleet. Unlike other legislative initiatives, the NAT GAS Act has bipartisan support in both chambers.

No. 3: The New Energy Army

Activists, the Pickens Plan

More than 1.6 million Americans have signed on to support my Pickens Plan, which aims to reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil, primarily through massive investment in wind power and reallocation of our natural gas resources to power our vehicles. Through their e-mails, phone calls and visits to the offices of their congressmen and senators, the so-called New Energy Army, speaking with one voice, has helped make foreign oil dependence a major piece of the American legislative and political discussion.

No. 4: Dr. Fatih Birol

Chief Economist, International Energy Agency

Fatih Birol is the chief economist of the International Energy Agency. When he says things like, “the world would need to find the equivalent of four times the crude oil reserves now held by Saudi Arabia to maintain current production plus six Saudi Arabias if it is to keep up with the expected increase in demand between now and 2030,” the world sits up and takes notice.

No. 5: Terrorists

One of the issues surrounding energy is that a relatively small group of terrorists can have an enormous impact on availability and distribution. As an example, groups such as the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta in Nigeria have demonstrated that the entire global energy system is so finely balanced that it can be materially impacted by one well-placed bomb in a far corner of the world. The War on Terror is not just about airliners and commuter trains; it is just as much about oil supplies and transmission lines.

No. 6: Wen Jiabao

Premier, People’s Republic of China

Nothing is likely to have as much impact on the world price of oil as the industrial growth in China. China’s one billion-plus population has made it clear they want a better (more Western) lifestyle, and that will be fueled by oil. The Chinese have spent over $100 billion in the last three years buying oil resources around the world, which is impacting what the value of oil in the ground is worth.

No. 7: Vladimir Putin

Prime Minister, Russia

Putin is an aggressive nationalist and will continue to use his country’s vast energy resources as a weapon. Given what he did last winter when he shut off natural gas supplies to much of Western Europe in an argument over pricing with Ukraine, it is clear that Vladimir Putin can, single-handedly, change the world’s energy equation at any time for any reason.

To read the Online version at Forbes.com, click HERE

– The Pickens Team

Check out this great video about the process of permitting and installing the first wind turbine at a school in Pocatello, Idaho! This is a project of Idaho’s Wind for Schools program.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dallas - November 9, 2009 -In his eleventh consecutive monthly update on the level of foreign oil imports in the U.S., energy expert T. Boone Pickens said that based on the latest figures from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration (EIA), the U.S. imported 60 percent of its oil, or 350 million barrels in October 2009, sending approximately $26.5 billion, or $ 594,359 per minute, overseas to foreign governments.

“America’s dependence on foreign oil continues unabated and uninterrupted” said Pickens. “Month after month the oil import trends continue and we have yet to truly do anything about it. But, there is a solution that uses a domestic resource to make a real difference. All that is needed is for our leaders in government to embrace natural gas and pass the NAT GAS Act. America is the Saudi Arabia of natural gas. It’s time for us to use this abundant resource to end the cycle of foreign oil dependency and addiction that is making us less safe and more economically insecure.”

Pickens continued, “I’ve said many times that natural gas is the ideal bridge fuel for transportation. Smart use of our vast domestic natural gas resources can immediately reduce our dependence on foreign oil and buy us time to develop additional resources like fuel cells, batteries and hydrogen. With new drilling techniques and technology giving us access to the incredible reserve of natural gas contained in the shale fields, we have more than 100 years supply of natural gas.”

The NAT GAS Act of 2009, H.R. 1835, was introduced in the House of Representatives on April 1. The Senate version of this bill, S. 1408, was introduced on July 8 as a bipartisan bill by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT).

Pickens continued, “With so many benefits to using our own natural gas, the NAT GAS Act is not just good public policy, it is critical public policy. Americans should call their government leaders today and tell them you want true energy reform that uses natural gas.”

Since January 2009, the U.S. has imported more than 3.6 billion barrels of oil. A study released in June by the Potential Gas Committee, a group of academics and industry specialists supported by the Colorado School of Mines, estimates that we have more than 2,000 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves, the only available source that could immediately replace foreign oil as a transportation fuel.

– The Pickens team

Bill Merrell, New York State Leader

-Tell us a little about yourself.

I am an educator and environmentalist and a person committed to energy conservation. I own and operate a New York state educational facility in which we teach multiple vocations, which includes Home Energy Conservation and Home Inspection Licensing in New York. I have been involved in Residential and Commercial Building Inspection for three decades to date, and have introduced energy conservation and environmental safety in many of our programs.

-Why are you a part of the Pickens Plan?

To help, in a small way to make a difference in the way we expend energy. The Pickens Plan and its Energy Army is important to Americans in our desire to reduce our reliance on foreign fuel. We can do this through energy conservation (which I actively teach) and alternative energy, including natural gas, wind, geothermal energy and hydroelectric energy. I am just happy to be part of an organization that is working to benefit our country and our citizens.

-Tell us about things you’ve done to promote the Pickens Plan.

I have contacted no less than 2,000 people about the Pickens Plan to date. I have met with local, regional, state and national leaders about supporting and joining the Pickens Plan. I have incorporated the Pickens Plan in the courses I teach at my School, Merrell Institute and Baruch College, as well as working with the Environmental Assessment Association, Housing Inspection Foundation and Association of Construction Inspectors as their National Education Director.  I am also on the National Education Committee of NACHI and 2009/2010 National Director of the North American Association Network. I am living the phrase “strength through networking”.

-Share one idea for what you’d like to accomplish through your work with the Pickens Plan in the next 3 months.

I plan on continuing to contact a minimum of 3 elected officials each and every week. I have done this for months to date, and I have received positive letters and e-mails and communication from local legislators, state officials and US Senators and US Congressional leaders. I am pleased they have been receptive to my communications and plan of continuing with my daily and weekly goals of reaching out and keeping the Pickens Plan on their minds. I hope to continue this for many years to come.

“Meet the Army” is a series here on Daily Pickens featuring New Energy Army members and how they are making a difference by being involved in the Pickens Plan. Who knows, maybe we’ll see you here soon! Click here to join your State and District Groups and get involved.

When Sean Kinney signed up to be the District Leader for Ohio’s 12th  Congressional District he set out a strategic plan based on his career experience in sales and marketing. He then set three focus areas 1. Promoting the NAT GAS Act 2. Increasing the membership of the New Energy Army in Ohio’s 12th Congressional District and 3. Improving visibility of the Pickens Plan and its supporters in Ohio’s 12th Congressional District.

Next he set out a plan to be carried out over 90-120 days with ideas moving into the next four to eight months. He also set a personal goal for himself “My goal is to spend no more than three hours per week on Pickens Plan planning and actions. My involvement with Pickens Plan is intended to be a labor of love, not simply labor.”

Sean did a great job of setting his goals, but he also used several tools to help him accomplish them. He chose to use UnHub, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

By using each of these tools, Sean has been able to connect with others interested in the Pickens Plan and get the message out to those who may or may not have heard about the plan and are interested in getting involved.

He said, “This is simply technology and I’m using it simply as a tool to create movement. However, it is up to me to take the movement and create real momentum. Technology is a great tool for spreading the word but people only get involved when they see other people involved. These tech tools have helped me meet and connect with people. It is up to me to do something with them. Once that happens keeping the pipeline filled is easy - and fun.”

Keep up the great work Sean! We can’t wait to see what you accomplish next!

Since July, 2008 the Pickens Plan has focused on natural gas as a substitute for foreign oil as the primary transportation fuel in the United States.

The Pickens Plan - which has largely concentrated on reducing our reliance on foreign oil - has always promoted utilizing “anything America” to generate electricity, as well as adding insulation, weather stripping and energy efficient machines and appliances in commercial buildings and homes.

In June of 2009, the Potential Gas Committee released its biennial study of the amount of natural gas available for recovery in the United States. Largely due to improvements in drilling technology, the vast shale plays in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Appalachia became candidates for tremendous natural gas recovery.

That means, as T. Boone Pickens said in a town hall meeting at the University of Texas at Dallas recently,

We have the most natural gas in the world, we rank above Russia, Iran and Qatar. We have 2,000 trillion, that’s barrels of oil equivalent, to 350 billion barrels which is about twice what the Saudi’s have in oil.

Natural gas is the only substitute for foreign diesel for moving heavy trucks and it’s great for fleet vehicles, too (just ask AT&T which is putting 8,000 natural gas vans into service in the future). Batteries cannot be used for 18-wheelers, and hydrogen fuel cells may be two or three decades away from full-scale production and distribution. Domestic natural gas is the perfect bridge fuel to technologies of the future.

Natural gas is available as an off-the-shelf technology right now-there are 10 million natural gas vehicles in use around the world today. And with the tremendous natural gas reserves of about 118 years in the continental United States, it is a fuel which we should begin using immediately.

– The Pickens Team

In the last two weeks we’ve added 22 co-sponsors to the NAT GAS Act, growing our total number of co-sponsors to 112!

Because of you, the NAT GAS Act (H.R. 1835) is gaining momentum and we’re adding new legislative co-sponsors everyday. But we’ve got to keep going.

We’re still working towards our goal of 120 co-sponsors by 11/20 and I know that together we can do it. Click here to email your Member of Congress and ask them to become a co-sponsor of the NAT GAS Act today.

Following is the full list of Members of Congress who are supporting H.R. 1835.

Rep Abercrombie, Neil [HI-1] - 4/1/2009
Rep Aderholt, Robert B. [AL-4] - 6/19/2009
Rep Alexander, Rodney [LA-5] - 6/8/2009
Rep Altmire, Jason [PA-4] - 11/3/2009
Rep Bachus, Spencer [AL-6] - 6/8/2009
Rep Barrow, John [GA-12] - 4/27/2009
Rep Barton, Joe [TX-6] - 6/16/2009
Rep Berry, Marion [AR-1] - 9/8/2009
Rep Biggert, Judy [IL-13] - 9/15/2009
Rep Bilbray, Brian P. [CA-50] - 5/21/2009
Rep Bishop, Sanford D., Jr. [GA-2] - 4/1/2009
Rep Blackburn, Marsha [TN-7] - 5/21/2009
Rep Boccieri, John A. [OH-16] - 10/29/2009
Rep Bonner, Jo [AL-1] - 7/31/2009
Rep Bono Mack, Mary [CA-45] - 5/21/2009
Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] - 4/21/2009
Rep Bright, Bobby [AL-2] - 7/28/2009
Rep Brown, Henry E., Jr. [SC-1] - 6/4/2009
Rep Burgess, Michael C. [TX-26] - 4/1/2009
Rep Burton, Dan [IN-5] - 5/21/2009
Rep Calvert, Ken [CA-44] - 5/7/2009
Rep Capuano, Michael E. [MA-8] - 6/4/2009
Rep Carney, Christopher P. [PA-10] - 10/29/2009
Rep Carter, John R. [TX-31] - 7/10/2009
Rep Cassidy, Bill [LA-6] - 5/21/2009
Rep Chandler, Ben [KY-6] - 10/29/2009
Rep Clay, Wm. Lacy [MO-1] - 9/15/2009
Rep Cole, Tom [OK-4] - 4/28/2009
Rep Conaway, K. Michael [TX-11] - 4/1/2009
Rep Courtney, Joe [CT-2] - 10/29/2009
Rep Cuellar, Henry [TX-28] - 6/2/2009
Rep Davis, Artur [AL-7] - 6/19/2009
Rep Davis, Lincoln [TN-4] - 7/7/2009
Rep Delahunt, William D. [MA-10] - 5/21/2009
Rep Edwards, Chet [TX-17] - 6/10/2009
Rep Ellison, Keith [MN-5] - 9/8/2009
Rep Fallin, Mary [OK-5] - 4/22/2009
Rep Fleming, John [LA-4] - 5/7/2009
Rep Foster, Bill [IL-14] - 4/27/2009
Rep Franks, Trent [AZ-2] - 5/5/2009
Rep Gerlach, Jim [PA-6] - 5/21/2009
Rep Granger, Kay [TX-12] - 5/21/2009
Rep Green, Al [TX-9] - 4/22/2009
Rep Green, Gene [TX-29] - 5/21/2009
Rep Griffith, Parker [AL-5] - 10/29/2009
Rep Hall, Ralph M. [TX-4] - 5/5/2009
Rep Hare, Phil [IL-17] - 11/3/2009
Rep Harper, Gregg [MS-3] - 7/14/2009
Rep Hodes, Paul W. [NH-2] - 9/22/2009
Rep Issa, Darrell E. [CA-49] - 9/22/2009
Rep Johnson, Sam [TX-3] - 7/8/2009
Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] - 9/8/2009
Rep Kagen, Steve [WI-8] - 4/1/2009
Rep Kaptur, Marcy [OH-9] - 10/29/2009
Rep Kilpatrick, Carolyn C. [MI-13] - 4/21/2009
Rep King, Peter T. [NY-3] - 9/22/2009
Rep Kirkpatrick, Ann [AZ-1] - 10/8/2009
Rep Kissell, Larry [NC-8] - 7/7/2009
Rep Kratovil, Frank, Jr. [MD-1] - 6/24/2009
Rep Larson, John B. [CT-1] - 4/1/2009
Rep Loebsack, David [IA-2] - 5/5/2009
Rep Lucas, Frank D. [OK-3] - 5/7/2009
Rep Lujan, Ben Ray [NM-3] - 10/20/2009
Rep Lummis, Cynthia M. [WY] - 10/29/2009
Rep Lungren, Daniel E. [CA-3] - 10/27/2009
Rep Marchant, Kenny [TX-24] - 4/21/2009
Rep Markey, Betsy [CO-4] - 4/1/2009
Rep Massa, Eric J. J. [NY-29] - 5/5/2009
Rep Matheson, Jim [UT-2] - 7/15/2009
Rep McCaul, Michael T. [TX-10] - 4/30/2009
Rep McCotter, Thaddeus G. [MI-11] - 6/2/2009
Rep McIntyre, Mike [NC-7] - 4/23/2009
Rep McMahon, Michael E. [NY-13] - 4/1/2009
Rep Meeks, Gregory W. [NY-6] - 10/26/2009
Rep Melancon, Charlie [LA-3] - 6/16/2009
Rep Miller, Jeff [FL-1] - 4/1/2009
Rep Minnick, Walter [ID-1] - 4/1/2009
Rep Mollohan, Alan B. [WV-1] - 10/29/2009
Rep Murphy, Christopher S. [CT-5] - 10/29/2009
Rep Murphy, Tim [PA-18] - 7/21/2009
Rep Norton, Eleanor Holmes [DC] - 6/2/2009
Rep Nunes, Devin [CA-21] - 5/5/2009
Rep Ortiz, Solomon P. [TX-27] - 9/10/2009
Rep Paul, Ron [TX-14] - 4/21/2009
Rep Paulsen, Erik [MN-3] - 6/10/2009
Rep Perlmutter, Ed [CO-7] - 4/27/2009
Rep Pierluisi, Pedro R. [PR] - 6/2/2009
Rep Platts, Todd Russell [PA-19] - 5/21/2009
Rep Pomeroy, Earl [ND] - 10/29/2009
Rep Rogers, Mike D. [AL-3] - 5/5/2009
Rep Ross, Mike [AR-4] - 4/21/2009
Rep Rothman, Steven R. [NJ-9] - 6/12/2009
Rep Ryan, Tim [OH-17] - 10/6/2009
Rep Salazar, John T. [CO-3] - 6/2/2009
Rep Scalise, Steve [LA-1] - 5/7/2009
Rep Sestak, Joe [PA-7] - 9/8/2009
Rep Shadegg, John B. [AZ-3] - 4/21/2009
Rep Shuler, Heath [NC-11] - 10/29/2009
Rep Shuster, Bill [PA-9] - 11/3/2009
Rep Simpson, Michael K. [ID-2] - 11/3/2009
Rep Sires, Albio [NJ-13] - 4/21/2009
Rep Slaughter, Louise McIntosh [NY-28] - 10/21/2009
Rep Snyder, Vic [AR-2] - 6/2/2009
Rep Sullivan, John [OK-1] - 4/1/2009
Rep Sutton, Betty [OH-13] - 10/29/2009
Rep Teague, Harry [NM-2] - 4/1/2009
Rep Thompson, Mike [CA-1] - 4/1/2009
Rep Thornberry, Mac [TX-13] - 4/28/2009
Rep Tiberi, Patrick J. [OH-12] - 6/12/2009
Rep Towns, Edolphus [NY-10] - 10/29/2009
Rep Wittman, Robert J. [VA-1] - 10/27/2009
Rep Wu, David [OR-1] - 10/14/2009

Are you planning on coming to the Pickens Plan Town Hall at University of Texas Dallas this Thursday, November 5th?

If so, shoot an email to Geoffrey.Bailey@pickensplan.com to get in on a special treat we’re planning for Boone and army members before the event!

Event Info:  This Thursday, November 5th, please join us for the inaugural lecture of the UT Dallas Forum on Energy Issues and Innovation featuring Texas business legend Boone Pickens discussing the Pickens Plan for U.S. energy independence. The event will be at the UT Dallas Conference Center. This event is free and open to the public. Doors open at 12:30 pm and the event begins promptly at 1:00 pm.

We hope you can join us. With the health care debate winding down, Boone’s Town Hall meetings are ramping up our momentum. Now, more then ever, Boone needs us!

P.S.  Tune into KRLD News Radio 1080 tomorrow, Wednesday, at 3:20 pm CT.  Boone will be interviewed live on the air.

Ryan Jones, Idaho State Leader

-Tell us a little about yourself

My name is Ryan Jones.  I attend Idaho State University and am currently studying instrumentation and controls.  I am learning the hard skills necessary to work in the energy industry and more specifically the natural gas industry.  In addition, I work for ESTEC which is the new Energy Systems Technology Education Center at ISU.  We organize science days for elementary schools in east Idaho by bringing energy related activities to to the classroom with the idea of stimulating kids interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.  These four disciplines are an essential ingredient as the United States prepares for stagnate and or declining oil production.

- Why are you part of the Pickens Plan?

I am in the school of thought that global oil production is very near if not already past peak production. New oil fields are extremely challenging to find and produce.  Giant fields are declining in production.  Leaving us with oil sand projects, deep sea production, and dependence on OPEC.  It’s extremely difficult to get an accurate field by field assessment of OPEC’s oil reserves and production.  We are not sure what they have and what they can produce.  It does not make economic sense for our economy to depend on these guys especially in a world where demand will far outstrip supply. We have the resources and the work ethic to reduce the dependency. The Pickens Plan is the plan that will start the process of decreasing our
dependence on OPEC oil. Coupled with global warming, this is the most pressing issue facing my generation but we are ready to roll!

- Tell us about things you’ve done to promote the Pickens Plan

I’ve promoted the plan by talking to government leaders at the local and state level.  Idaho’s governor Butch Otter was one of the first governor’s to sign the Pickens Plan pledge.  I’ve used the local papers for promotion by writing Op-Eds or by them doing stories on my involvement with the Pickens Plan.  I’ve used the website to send BoonCams or articles to my network of people throughout Idaho and the country. I wear the Pickens Plan trucker hat which can be a great conversation starter.

-Share one idea for what you’d like to accomplish through your work with the Pickens Plan in the next 3 months.

Idaho’s congressional leaders Rep. Simpson, Sen. Crapo, and Sen. Risch have not signed the Pickens Plan.  I’d like to see leaders at the federal level become more involved with the dependency problem and sign on to the plan.  We have 2010 elections right around the corner and my vote goes to the canidates that understand and support our mission.

“Meet the Army” is a series here on Daily Pickens featuring New Energy Army members and how they are making a difference by being involved in the Pickens Plan. Who knows, maybe we’ll see you here soon! Click here to join your State and District Groups and get involved.

Check out this video produced by Oklahoma State University about yesterday’s Town Hall meeting.

In case you missed it, click here to watch a replay of yesterday’s T. Boone Pickens Town Hall at Oklahoma State University.