The T. Boone Pickens Road Show

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.

Related Content

• State and EPA Battle Over Fracking, Flaming Well Water
  April 26, 2012
• Fracking Wreaks Fiery Havoc with Texas's Well Water
  April 25, 2012
• Amazing Houston Business Journal Scoop: Onion Article Probably Not True
  May 15, 2012
• Bang A Gong: Duran Duran Guitarist Turned Rocker Andy Taylor Is 51
  February 16, 2012
• Judge Samuel Kent WikiLeaked: Had Halliburton Conspiracy Theory About His Sex-Abuse Scandal
  February 27, 2012

More About

• Anthony Rubenstein
• Wind Power Generation
• Utilities Sector
• Science and Technology
• Energy Technology

Like this Story?

Sign up for the Weekly Newsletter: Our weekly feature stories, movie reviews, calendar picks and more - minus the newsprint and sent directly to your inbox.

Privacy Policy Cancel Continue

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