WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) and Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) introduced the NAT GAS Act of 2011 to encourage the use of domestic natural gas to fuel vehicles. The legislation is the Senate’s version of the H.R. 1380, which has broad bi-partisan support in the House with 181 co-sponsors.
Commenting on the introduction of the Senate Bill, T. Boone Pickens offered the following statement:
“It is so encouraging to see Republicans and Democrats come together to put America first. I salute Senators Menendez, Burr, Chambliss and Majority Leader Reid for recognizing that we need a fiscally responsible energy policy that cuts dependence on foreign oil while creating American jobs, lifting our economy, enhancing our national security, and protecting our environment.
“This is a great opportunity to end four decades of unfulfilled promises by our elected leaders to end America’s dependence on foreign oil. America’s energy future is the key to our economic viability and creating jobs now. These should not be partisan issues, which is why I expect this Senate Bill will experience such broad support from both sides of the aisle.
“Nothing in America has such a thoroughly transformative economic potential as domestic natural gas. Simply by increasing the use of domestic natural gas in vehicles, we can get on our own resources, immediately create 400,000 good jobs, redirect billions of dollars of foreign oil money back into the hands of American businesses, and cut our dependence on OPEC by half.
“If past experience is any indication, I have no doubt that special interests that only care about themselves will attempt to create false arguments and false choices to stop this legislation. I sincerely urge the Senate to recognize those voices for what they are – obstacles of change and endorsers of the status quo, which is not working.
“On behalf of the American people, I ask the Senate to do what is unquestionably in America’s best interest: seize this unique and powerful opportunity and pass this bill.”
About the Pickens Plan
Unveiled on July 8, 2008 by T. Boone Pickens, the Pickens Plan is a detailed solution for ending the United States’ growing dependence on foreign oil. That year, when oil prices reached $140/barrel, America was spending about $700 billion for foreign oil, equaling the greatest transfer of wealth in history. That figure has decreased some while oil prices have retreated, but the U.S. is still dependent on foreign nations for nearly 70 percent of its oil, representing a continuing national security and national economic threat. The plan calls for expanding the use of domestic renewable resources, such as wind and solar, in power generation and using our abundant supplies of natural gas as a transportation fuel alternative to OPEC oil.
More than 1.6 million people have joined the Pickens Army through the website www.pickensplan.com, which has had over 20 million hits. For more information on the Pickens Plan please visit our website www.pickensplan.com. Boone can be followed on Twitter @boonepickens.