T. Boone Pickens to speak at wind energy conference

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BY JACK MONEY

Published: November 22, 2008

There’s something in the wind.

It’s news, and the news is this: T. Boone Pickens, celebrated author of the Pickens Plan, is coming to Oklahoma City next month to deliver a keynote address at Oklahoma’s inaugural conference on wind development.

The conference, organizers say, is to address both challenges and possibilities of wind energy.

"Wind projects are emerging across our state,” said David Fleischaker, Oklahoma’s Secretary of Energy. "Clean, sustainable and affordable, wind is at the forefront of America’s new energy plan.”

But, he added, "there are a number of issues that need to be thought about and discussed.”

Pickens will deliver the conference’s keynote address during a luncheon the first day. He said he’s glad to participate because he thinks wind energy has to be part of the renewable energy portfolio used to reduce U.S. dependence on imported oil.

Recently, Pickens has been touring the country touting the Pickens Plan, which first proposes using wind to generate up to 20 percent of the nation’s electricity needs by 2018. It then proposes using natural gas formerly used for electricity to power automobiles and trucks.

The goal is to get President-elect Barack Obama and Congress on board, Pickens said.

"We have got to get it in the first 100 days. After that, it will just be a long, drawn out lobbying effort. I want to avoid that, if we can,” he said.

Mark Tercek, chief executive officer of The Nature Conservancy, will be luncheon keynote speaker the second day. While Pickens will discuss the need for America to remain committed to wind energy, Tercek will provide a perspective that emphasizes the importance of environmental stewardship, organizers said.

"With Oklahoma poised to become a national leader in wind power, the full spectrum of issues we face in developing this new energy industry have to be examined,” said J.D. Strong, Oklahoma’s Secretary of Environment.