T. Boone Pickens Loses Interest in Wind Power
Pickens remains committed to energy independence, but is cutting back on wind power. (image: jurvetson via flickr.com)
T. Boone Pickens, recently an outspoken (and somewhat unexpected) proponent of wind power, has changed course again. Pickens announced earlier this week that he is reducing his investment in wind to focus more exclusively on natural gas. The Dallas Morning News reported that the former oilman’s company, Mesa Power, LP, will be taking a delivery of only 300 wind turbines, down from an order he announced in May of 687 turbines.
Those turbines were meant to become part of an ambitious wind farm in Texas; now, none of the turbines will be sent to the Lone Star state. Pickens told reporters that America has only one resource that can compete with oil “and it’s natural gas.” Pickens said that one reason wind energy has become less important is because of the drop in the price of natural gas.
The change in Pickens’ energy interest—wind energy was one of the lynchpins of his Pickens Plan—likely won’t earn the billionaire any points with environmentalists though, as the New York Times notes. The paper highlights that, once again, Pickens has “tweaked the Pickens Plan in a way that just happens to conform with his changing business interests.” The paper goes on to note that many of Pickens’s business investments will benefit if natural gas usage were to rise.
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johosafat says: says:
The question here, clearly, is not what’s best for America and her people but what might be best for T. Boone and his investor following? True double minded folly. 300 turbines for Minnesota? ITC Holdings, Novi, MI and/or Xcel Energy as partners? Mindless—and losing face again. Perhaps legal department at General Electric had something to do with forcing 333 turbines needing delivery to somewhere? Additionally, gigantic, costly build outs of a new high voltage electric transmission grid to send energy long distance-extremely inefficiently-would be an enormous mistake for the US leaving business and consumer both reeling financially. And still electric demand continues to drop. In truth, the future of energy will also be enhanced via local production and local/regional distribution–smaller “smart grid” systems using existing transmission–in concert with gas, oil, solar, wind and other. Thankfully, those folks in Minnesota, where he is now going, are sharp enough to give him a serious run (or spanking?) for his money. 10 east coast Governors also wrote a letter to Congress recently against such long range importation of energy-See: http://www.pecva.org/anx/index.cfm/1,516,2263,-1,html. Wind power from Central Canada & Minnesota aimed at the Eastern seaboard is…well… just another T. Boondoggle. “Texas Two Stepping” in panic mode? Amusing…keep dancing.