Can T. Boone Pickens Help Break the Political Logjam on Climate Change? By Joe Mandle, SFChronicle, August 11, 2008. "T. Boone Pickens [a steadfast Republican] has not become an instant environmentalist. But he has become an advocate of wind power, because he sees the country's dependence on imported petroleum as a security threat... but in advancing his Pickens Plan, he will find more allies among environmentalists than among his conservative friends... Pickens' initiative has the potential to break the logjam that has long impeded progress on climate change. Polling data has consistently shown the public supports developing alternative energy sources, a preference reinforced by $4 a gallon gas. Pickens' advocacy of wind power lends renewable energy credibility that it didn't have when promoted exclusively by environmentalists, and accomplished something that the green movement has failed to do: Move extensive use of nonfossil fuels higher up the political agenda. But even Pickens will have to battle entrenched energy special interests that have long stymied the environmental movement. Since 1990, donors associated with the oil and gas industries gave $220.4 million to politicians running for office, compared to just $3.4 million from donors connected to alternative energy production and services firms."
2008-08-11
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