T. Boone Pickens Declares “Energy Independence Day” on Year Anniversary of Pickens Plan

T. Boone Pickens Declares “Energy Independence Day” on Year Anniversary of Pickens Plan Pickens Joins Bipartisan Group of Congressional Leaders on Capitol Hill to Promote Natural Gas Legislation

WASHINGTON--July 8 2009 --Energy expert T. Boone Pickens today declared “Energy Independence Day” on the one year anniversary of the launch of the Pickens Plan. This declaration clearly affirms the ongoing American commitment to ending our addiction to foreign oil.

Pickens marked the anniversary by joining a large bipartisan group of Congressional leaders in the House and the Senate at the U.S. Capitol Building to recognize legislation supporting the sale and use of vehicles that run on clean, domestic natural gas. Pickens appeared with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) to introduce the NAT GAS Act. Pickens also joined Representatives Dan Boren (D-OK), John Larson (D-CT) and John Sullivan (R-OK) and several other bipartisan cosponsors of HR 1835, the NAT GAS Act, introduced on April 1 of this year.

“From here on, July 8th will be recognized as Energy Independence Day, honoring the dedicated members of the Pickens Plan, our leaders in Washington who are taking action to promote energy reform, and the commitment of millions of Americans to break our addiction to foreign oil,” said Pickens.

The Pickens Plan was launched to address what the energy industry veteran has called “the greatest transfer of wealth in human history,” the approximately $475 billion the U.S. paid for foreign oil in 2008. America now relies on foreign nations — many of them unfriendly to the U.S. — for nearly 70 percent of its oil needs, a figure Pickens calls the greatest threat to America’s economic and national security.

“I applaud the Congressional leaders I stand with here today in our nation’s Capitol for their dedication to energy reform. By introducing and supporting legislation that encourages making better use of the abundant resources on our own soil, they are helping create the comprehensive energy plan this country has been lacking for 40 years. America’s national and economic security depends on moving off foreign oil as quickly as possible -- their commitment to keeping energy debate on the forefront is moving us one step closer,” continued Pickens. “We’ve accomplished a lot in a year, including elevating this issue to the national agenda and pressing for immediate action. We have made great progress in the past year, but there is still work to be done. We must keep fighting for a brighter, cleaner domestic energy future.”

In just one year, the Pickens Plan accomplishments include:

•Pickens built an advocacy base-- the Pickens New Energy Army-- of nearly 1.6 million members representing virtually every state and congressional district in the United States •The Pickens Plan website (www.pickensplan.com) has received over 17 million hits and was among the top 1,000 sites worldwide in the first month •Pickens secured nearly 2.7 billion media impressions •Pickens traveled to 35 states, 74 cities and hosted 22 Town Hall Meetings to promote the plan and to educate Americans on the threat imported oil has on our economy and security •Energy reform and foreign oil dependency were elevated to key issues in the 2008 election cycle, and Pickens met with both Presidential candidates on the campaign trail •Pickens participated in the Center For American Progress Action Fund’s National Clean Energy Summit, which was held in early 2009 to discuss America’s energy future; participants included President Bill Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, Honorary Chairman Senator Harry Reid, Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Pickens and several other leading decision policy makers •Approximately 450 bipartisan elected officials have signed the Pickens Pledge for Energy Independence, including 55 U.S. Representatives, 9 U.S. Senators, and 13 Governors •Dozens of corporate and third-party supporters include leading environmentalist Robert Kennedy Jr., American Electric Power, The American Wind Energy Association, AutoNation, Owens Corning, The Propane Education & Resources Council, NGVAmerica and the Sierra Club •Legislative successes that have included incentives that will transform domestic energy production, transmission, and distribution by allowing for a smarter and better grid and focusing investment in renewable technology through tax credits, grants, and loan guarantees •Legislative initiatives moving forward in the House and Senate including a national renewable electricity standard, transmission reform, a green bank to finance America’s move to domestic energy sources, and conversion of trucking fleets to natural gas What Others Have Said About the Pickens Plan:

“I've really come to admire Boone Pickens, he's someone who's made a fortune in oil and he said before he died he wanted to do something for his country and he's doing that.”

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

“I want to congratulate my very good friend T. Boone Pickens on the first Anniversary of the Pickens Plan. I’m so proud of the tremendous work that Boone is doing to transform our energy future…Congratulations, and once again, a Happy Energy Independence Day.”

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

“United States of America, our country, is the only nation that can lead the world when a crisis like this looms. And in order to lead the world, we have to restore the momentum and the can-do spirit that - Boone Pickens exemplifies this - let’s go and let’s do this.”

Former Vice President Al Gore

“T. Boone Pickens is celebrating the first anniversary of the Pickens Plan. Since we joined in hosting a Town Hall meeting on Capitol Hill for House and Senate staffers, we have been working together to help America understand that investing in clean energy is not just an investment in a cleaner, greener America. The Pickens Plan will have an immediate impact on creating jobs and keeping American dollars on American soil.”

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

“We are proud of our partnership with the Pickens Plan and congratulate Boone and all of the 1.6 million members of the Pickens Plan Army on the first anniversary of the Pickens Plan.”

Owens Corning Chairman Mike Thaman

“Last December, the American Lung Association joined with Mayor Mike Bloomberg and T. Boone Pickens at an event in New York City to mark the occasion of the American Lung Association’s support of the Pickens Plan. Since that time many other groups have followed our lead in supporting an energy plan that will have a significant positive impact on air quality throughout the nation. The American Lung Association would like to congratulate Boone Pickens on the first anniversary of the Pickens Plan. We urge everyone to join in this effort.”

American Lung Association President and CEO Charles D. Connor

About the Pickens Plan

Unveiled on July 8, 2008 by T. Boone Pickens, the Pickens Plan is a detailed solution for ending the United States’ growing dependence on foreign oil. Last year, when oil prices reached $140/barrel, America was spending about $700 billion for foreign oil, equaling the greatest transfer of wealth in human history. That figure has decreased some while oil prices have retreated, but the U.S. is still dependent on foreign nations for nearly 70 percent of its oil, representing a continuing national security and national economic threat. The plan calls for expanding the use of domestic renewable resources, such as wind and solar, in power generation and using our abundant supplies of natural gas as a transportation fuel, replacing more than one-third of our imported oil.

More than 1.6 million people have joined the Pickens Army through the website www.pickensplan.com, which has had over 17,000,000 hits. For more information on the Pickens Plan please visit our website www.pickensplan.com.

Contacts For T. Boone PickensJay Rosser, 214-265-4165Jay@bpcap.netorMelissa McKay, 212-446-1898press@pickensplan.com




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