Oil investor visits Lamar to promote wind energy
Story By: David Ortiviz
Source: KOAA
Published Wed Aug 06, 2008, 10:48 PM MDT
Updated Thu Aug 07, 2008, 07:36 AM MDT
A billionaire oil investor was in Lamar Wednesday to promote a plan to reduce America's dependence on foreign oil.
T. Boone Pickens has launched a $58 million campaign to promote the use of natural gas and wind energy.
Pickens wants to build wind turbines from Texas to North Dakota to generate electricity. At a town hall meeting in Lamar, Pickens also detailed his proposal to use natural gas to fuel cars. About 250 people attended the meeting.
Pickens says the U.S. currently imports about 70% of its oil, at an annual cost of $700 billion.
"This is a huge security problem for the country. That 700 billion dollars that we're paying for that 70-percent Is very tough on our economy. Our economy is struggling right now, so I think this is an issue that is a number one issue in this political campaign for president," said Pickens.
Pickens says if his plan is adopted, the U.S. could reduce its foreign oil imports by up to 40% over the next ten years.
