The T. Boone Pickens Road Show

A former wildcatter and corporate-takeover tycoon preaches alternative energy across America.

Comments (0) By Chris Vogel Wednesday, Mar 25 2009

Lobbyists say Republicans have been receptive to the Pickens Plan, and Pickens himself says he's trying hard to persuade them his idea is the way to go.

"I'd say that three or four months ago they were pretty cold to me," says Pickens, "and now they're more willing to come along. The further I go, the more I think [Republicans] realize that the plan has real merit."

Daniel Kramer

Pickens preaches about the perils of importing foreign oil.

Chris Vogel

The Texas Panhandle city of Pampa is hoping Pickens's wind farm gets running soon.

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The next step, says Pickens, is working to get additional legislative help for the natural gas side of his plan.

"I think it's going to show up in the energy bill pretty quick," Pickens says one morning, several hours after his routine 6:30 a.m. workout. "There's no question we've got the wind started and we've got the energy grid going, and there's no question we're on our way to the last piece of the plan."

Back in January, says Pickens, he thought he had a winning hand, but wondered if he'd play it well enough to make it pay off. "I probably lacked some confidence then that I have now," he says.

Critics accuse Pickens of being a hypocrite, morphing from a free-market capitalist into a panhandling socialist when it fits his financial needs. To that, Pickens says, "the free market is fine, but waiting on the free market can sometimes be disastrous."

Instead, Pickens chooses to wait on Congress. Only time will tell if the veteran hedge fund manager has made the right bet.

"I feel great," says Pickens, "but until all the horses are in the barn, I'm not going to be tipping my hat or taking credit for anything."

chris.vogel@houstonpress.com