It’s been more than three years since billionaire oilman T. Boone Pickens unveiled his eponymous energy plan for America.

The Holdenville native has spent $82 million to promote the Pickens Plan since July 2008, amassing 1.7 million followers online, but lawmakers haven’t moved ahead with any of his suggestions.

Pickens said he is not sure Congress is ready for a comprehensive energy plan, so he has focused on getting the nation’s trucking fleet running on compressed natural gas instead of diesel.

The NAT GAS Act was introduced in 2009. It now has 185 co-sponsors.

“If we can get it to a vote, it’ll pass,” Pickens told The Oklahoman on Wednesday.

He said he expects a similar bill to be filed in the Senate soon.

Less expensive fuel

No matter what happens in Washington, D.C., Pickens said he is confident CNG will displace diesel fuel because it is $2 a gallon cheaper.

“It’s going to happen, with or without legislation,” he said.

Pickens said adopting CNG as a vehicle fuel is an essential part of helping the United States solve its energy problems.

He said it is vital for the country to use its own domestic resources, rather than importing billions of dollars worth of oil from the Middle East.

“We have resources in America that would allow us to be energy secure,” Pickens said.

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This article was first published

by the
NewsOK
on Thursday, October 27, 2011

Article source: http://www.cngnow.com/News/Post.aspx?ID=515