Business

<< Previous   of   Next >> Associated Press  (click to enlarge) T. Boone Pickens responds to questions during an interview with the Associated Press on Tuesday in New York. Pickens said he'll fund a multimedia advertising campaign to focus the nation's attention on what he calls the single biggest crisis facing the country today: dependence on foreign oil.   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Mike Benbow, Business Editor benbow@heraldnet.com   Published: Wednesday, July 9, 2008 Texas oilman urge America to diversify in energy Associated Press HOUSTON -- Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens opened a campaign Tuesday in an attempt to bring more focus to solving the nation's energy crisis. The former wildcatter, who now heads the Dallas-based hedge fund BP Capital Management LP, outlined his concerns and some proposed solutions in New York. "U.S. dependency on foreign oil has reached an economic crisis point," Pickens said. "Now dependent on foreign nations for 70 percent of its oil, the U.S. is exporting $700 billion annually, more than four times the cost of the Iraq war." Last year, Pickens announced plans to build the world's largest wind farm in Texas. The cost of the project could grow to $12 billion before its scheduled completion in 2014. Under Pickens' proposal: Thousands of wind turbines would be constructed across the nation's wind belt, from Texas to the north, which he said would generate enough power to meet 20 percent of the nation's electricity needs. Transmission lines would be constructed to connect distant wind farms to cities that need the power. Natural gas would be used to replace some imported gasoline and diesel. Pickens wants to bring energy to the forefront of the presidential election. "I am calling on the next president and Congress to take immediate action in the first 100 days of the new administration to do whatever is necessary to make this plan a reality," Pickens said. "We are asking the American public to get behind this plan and to help us reduce our dangerous dependency on foreign oil."

1. Life on the strike line 2. Arlington boatbuilder shutting down; hundreds to lose jobs 3. Dwayne Lane can build in Arlington, court says 4. Boeing, Machinists likely to resume talks this weekend 5. Woman who helped bust Everett cyberpimp will serve a week in jail 6. Crash shuts highway in Lake Stevens, sends 1 to hospital 7. U.S. 2 striping will add a lane 8. Man arrested after Everett gun confrontation 9. Snow So Soon? 10. Robinson looks to be productive for Seattle 2 - Top 10 Stories Most Talked about 3 - Top 10 Stories Most Emailed

• Shorecrest upsets Meadowdale behind fine defensive effort • 'Free' solution to costly problem? • King's beats Archbishop Murphy, takes over lead in Cascade Conference • One sweet training program • Who says white men can't rap? • Anonymous parent salvages snacks at school • Court move's plans raise questions • Jackson prevails in overtime thriller • Meadowdale's Moore-Taylor runs wild • Paine Field airline service strongly supported by 71 percent of web surv ... • Verizon launches FiOS TV in Washington State • Leisure Time Events - September 2008 • September 2008 • State needs to establish north county campus to meet growing technology ... • Future software programs may be based online • Visit two unusual Paine Field aviation museums for historic and futurist ... • Mothers launch Kids ‘N’ Clay pottery studio to provide children with cre ...