he was a big supporter for wind power. He plan was run up the from texas through the mid west by taking over private property by the gov to bring power lines to these wind mills the only thing I know about this story is what Pickens described in his autobiography which I read a few years back. The plan with wind power, the way he described it, was on a voluntary basis. He tells a story how he got together some landowners in Texas and suggested to go into business of generating electric power with those wind turbines. He told them directly that he personally will not place any on HIS property - "because they are ugly" - but explained that the money is good, and many people agreed to do it.
Pickens, it seems, was a somewhat controversial man all life - an oil man who turned corporate raider, he found himself, already in his 60's, thrown out of his own company, divorced, depressed.... The guy started a hedge fund, and after initial (devastating) losses ended up making several billions trading nat gas futures and options. Remarkable.
I do believe that he is sincere in his thinking about nat gas use as transportation fuel. The man is probably close to 90 years of age - I doubt that he is overly concerned about his personal wealth. And if he is right and positioned himself correctly - why not, he should make money.
In the end, the important question is less about his personality (and perhaps some of his tactics) than whether or not he is right on the big picture. And it does appear that he is. Nat gas is abundant, and will remain so for a long time. There are advances in gasification of coal, algae - and even when it comes to shale and sands oil, it may turn out that getting the carbons out in the form of gas will work better than digging and cooking the stuff...... |
