Pickens Pushes Energy Plan to the Next Generation

By Kelly Ogle, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Boone Pickens is a man who thrives on change, and challenges, and he's in his element pushing Americans toward his PickensPlan for energy.

Noon Monday, Boone Pickens boarded his luxury jet, his aerial command, if you will.

"We're the only country in the world today that imports 70 percent of their oil and half of it comes from our enemies. Now there's nobody as foolish as we are," Pickens said.

This is not a new fight for the billionaire oilman. He's been calling for a national energy plan for decades and has discussed his agenda with every President since Nixon. Pickens said Clinton understood it best, but now he's waging an all out war and enlisting the next generation.

Pickens followed the markets while he and his PickensPlan staff sped from Dallas to South Bend, Indiana where he'll rallied the troops at Notre Dame.

"I'm trying to get kids my grandchildren's age and great grandchildren's age interested in what they're going to be up against," Pickens said.

So far he's spent $68 million of his own dollars promoting America's natural gas as the future fuel for semis and then cars, and using wind and solar power for electricity.

The 81-year-old oilman has taken his message to about 20 universities tailoring it to a younger audience. He speaks for 40 minutes without notes citing multiple statistics, most of it while sitting on a stool. When he's through dozens line up to ask questions. He said that's where he's in his element.

"Somebody said the other day 'you know what you do? You get a thousand people together and scare hell out of them!' You know maybe I do, but I know what I'm talking about. "You're my best prospect. You're my best prospect to help get this done. The younger people are the best," Pickens said during an address to Notre Dame.

And many young people agreed.

"I think he makes a really strong case and I'm definitely going to do some more research on his ideas," said a student who attended Pickens' speech at Notre Dame.

Six o'clock and Pickens is done with his message to the troops. He smiled during the picture taking with Notre Dame administrators and then it was wheels up for Dallas at 7pm.

It had been a long day scheduled tight intentionally for a man who doesn't have much patience for down time.

"Have you always been like that, running on a fifth gear," asked NEWS 9's Kelly Ogle.

"I don't know. It works whatever it is. I'm ready for bed," Pickens said.

Find out more about Boone Pickens' energy plan