T. Boone Pickens Says Peak Oil Reached, Plans World’s Largest Wind Farm
When one of Texas’s richest oil men bets big on wind energy, it gets attention. Yesterday NPR’s Living on Earth broadcast an interview with Mr. Pickens, who shared the salient facts about his planned wind project:
- It will be the largest in the world, he reckons, at 4,000 megawatts
- It will provide enough power for 1,300,000 homes
- It’s a $10 billion dollar project from which he plans a 15%-25% profit
Asked why he is investing in wind now, Pickens replied:
“For a number of years I’ve watched the wind turbines develop — and I feel like it’s time for it. I think that oil has peaked at 85 million barrels in the world. We’ve got to develop other forms of energy — wind, I think solar will be next, and I hope I’m still around to be in the solar deal.” (Pickens is 80 years old.
But what if Congress doesn’t vote to extend the wind Production Tax Credit?
“Well, I think they’ll vote on it. They’ll either do that or they’ll give some kind of carbon credit because, the wind has to be developed in the United States. We’re now importing 72 percent of the oil we use every day. I think everybody can see that we’re gonna break the country if we pay 700 billion dollars a year for, uh, imported oil……I’ve got a good team of people that are knowledgeable in wind energy, and I don’t worry about it. I think it’s a good project, and it’ll do well and we’ll make money. And it’ll help the country.”
I took a look at Pickens’s bio on Wikipedia. He grew up poor but worked hard. He became a geologist in the 50’s, which “were difficult times for the oil industry and petroleum geologists.” He stuck at it and obviously his bet on oil paid off; Pickens is worth $3 billion now. But he’s moving on — to wind. Find out more about this story in the current issue of Fast Company.
T. Boone Pickens on ethanol: Which is Worse: Exporting $1 Billion Per Week or Growing Fuel?
More on Wind Power:
- Vertical-Axis Wind Turbines: The Future of Micro Wind? [w/video]
- The “Unlimited” Potential of American Wind Power: AWEA
- Top Five Micro Wind Turbines
Image credit: www.boonepickens.com
Kent is a moron. “I calculated that to supply 105 million U.S. households would require 53 million windmills throughout the country on about 27 million acres of land.”
Oh did you Kent? How brilliant of you. So that’s one windmill (as you call them) per TWO households? They must sure be small wind TURBINES…
Retard.
When are you going to start hiring a work staff for this exciting new project
I think this is wonderful.I have been imagining millions of windmills throughout the center of our nation.In the Great lakes,the Gulf,Pacific and Atlantic coasts.( I also imagine huge solar farms in our deserts).
The costs will drop.the more we put up.
I do not consider myself an environmentalist,but I certainly like the idea of cleaner energy sources;I really like the idea of not sending all our money to other nations,many of those that don’t really like us.
I say its about time somebody puts their money where their mouth is.I also do not have a problem with government assistance in this.
Thank You for your vision.
Looking forward to hearing more
Dean DeMarco
Gary N (on July 8th at 3:35pm) is a small minded person that thinks because a wealthy man wants to place himself in the way of the next energy alternative that would be a way to get “our” tax money. Well I think that if the man wants to keep 700 billion of our money in this country and not to terror supporting countries I will vote to keep this country strong any time and if people like you who think that we should keep relying on foreign countries to supply our energy needs then you are gravely mistaken. I don’t see your name on the Forbes top 500 of the world’s richest people Gary. So maybe you should crawl back in the hole you came out of and stop writing on blogs.
[...] major developments in US wind energy development: the well-publicized T. Boone Pickens push for a 4,000 MW wind farm and associated grid infrastructure in Texas, and the recent approval of a 909 megawatt wind farm in [...]
[...] T. Boone Pickens Says Peak Oil Reached, Plans World’s Biggest Wind Farm [...]
We have a two-fold plan to end U.S. dependence on fossil fuels.This plan consists of a dual system: The Interim System, and The Permanent System. The Interim System will keep the country running at an estimated .99-$1.30 in fuel costs. This initial step will yield gasoline and diesel fuels for any residual use during the interim. The Permanent System will consist of a new motor which will enable the country to realize a 90% drop in fuel cost, while generating the same amount of power. For example, once this system is in place, a family of four will be able to travel from New York City to Los Angeles,California for approximately 15%. This plan will utilize 100% American resources. The concept fundamental to the plan totally excludes the use of batteries, solar and wind power, as well as geo-thermal sources. There will therefore be no depletion of corn crops; nor will hydrogen be employed. The central idea to this System is completely new and uniquely fitted to our current situation.
Why do you talk about the near term needs ffor USA to dtill for oil on MSBC and then make your wind farm plan sound like the real solution for our energy needs?
drilling for oil and gas has a 100% chance of success and provides the needs for all the other products that come from oil.
Please support drilling in your plan.
Wind and solar may take years and will not eliminate the need for oil and gas
DEAR MR. PICKENS,
YOU HAD SPOKEN ABOUT WANTING TO HELP THE CITIZENS OF THE USA LEAD A BETTER LIFE. MAY I GIVE YOU AN IDEA TO HELP CREATE JOBS?
HERE IN GEORGIA WE HAVE KUDZU GROWING EVERYWHERE IT CAN. IT IS A LEAFY PLANT THAT GROWS LIKE A VINE
COVERING THE TREES BY GROWING AROUND THE TRUNK FROM BOTTOM ROOT TO TH E TOP LEAF. IT MAKES OUR LANDSCAPES LOOK
LIKE SOMETHING FROM A SCARY MOVIE.
THIS STRANGE PLANT CAN BE USEFUL IN SEVERAL WAYS AND IS TODAY BEING MADE INTO JELLY AND OTHER USEFUL ITEMS.
IT CAN ALSO BE USED TO MAKE SOME SORT OF ALTERNATIVE FUEL FOR AUTOS. IN JANUARY 2006 (?) PRESIDENT BUSH SIGNED
A DESIGNATED PAPER TO START THE BALL ROLLING ON THE KUDZU RESEARCH. HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THAT RESEARCH?
NEITHER HAVE I.
THIS PLANT IS VERY HARD TO KILL, IT IS EXTREMELY HARD TO CUT OUT OF THE GROUND, AND WOULD TAKE A FEW PEOPLE
TO ACCOMPLISH THAT TASK; AND ALTHOUGH IT BECOMES DORMANT IN THE COLD WEATHER, IT APPEARS AGAIN IN THE W ARMER
SEASONS. IT IS VERY HARD TO KILL. IN FACT, YOU CAN’T KILL IT. WHICH IS WHY I AM WRITING.ABOUT THIS PRODUCT.
KUDZU IS HERE IN THE US AND GROWING RAPIDLY NORTH FROM THE SOUTHERN STATES INTO THE CENTRAL STATES. IT DOES NOTHING FOR THE LANDSCAPES.. IT KILLS THE TREES, CHANGES OUR ATMOSPHERIC CHAIN, AND LOOKS LIKE IT IS HERE TO STAY. THIS GOD-GIVEN PLANT CAN HELP US WITH OUR NEED FOR JOBS, MAKING ALTERNATIVE FUEL, AS WELL AS SHOWING US THE WAY TO MAKE SOUPS AND OTHER FOODS WITH KUDZU.
TODAY PEOPLE NEED JOBS, THINK OF HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD BE PUT TO WORK IF THEY WERE ON A PATROL TO CUT THE KUDZU AND PACK IT INTO CONTAINERS FOR FUTURE MANUFACTURING INTO THE FUEL FOR OUR AUTOS. BUILD THE NECESSARY
FACTORY, MR.. PICKENS AND LET’S GET STARTED CONTROLLING OUR COUNTRY’S NATURAL WEALTH FOR OUR PEOPLE AND THE NEXT GENERATIONS TO COME.
THIS WOULD TAKE ON THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A SIMILAR OPERATION CALLED THE WPA (?) FROM PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT’S WATCH IN THE 1940′S. PUTTING PEOPLE TO WORK AND KEEPING OUR FUEL PURCHASES IN OUR OWN COUNTRY IS AT THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE AT THIS TIME IN HISTORY, DON”T YOU AGREE, MR. PICKENS?
THANK YOU FOR READING THIS.
BARBARA HURD
KENNESAW, GEORGIA
@ Gary N,
Isn’t nuclear much more of the burden on the tax payer? Think Nuclear Regulatory Commission & Yucca Mountain. How much benefit has the taxpayer gotten from those institutions? I’m pretty sure building a wind farm assumes you are going to have a certain amount of turbines out of commision for routine/emergency maintenance. Also, if the turbines have magnetic bearings, their won’t be as much maintenance. Also, do you remember who we have to buy uranium from?