Pickens 10 Questions from Oct.31, 2008 TIME

Friday, Oct. 31, 2008
10 Questions for T. Boone Pickens

Do you envision an energy plan that will eventually lead to the U.S. no longer being dependent on fossil fuels? Paul Frost, IONIA, MICH.

That'll be a long time off. What I envision is we're going to have to use every resource we have. I want to get off of foreign oil. When I say off foreign oil, I'm O.K. with Canadian oil. I'm O.K. with oil from Mexico. In 10 years, if I was running the operation, I think I could have us where we had reduced oil by 50%.

If you believe that we need cleaner, more independent sources of energy, how will you help convince those who will still profit from oil? Andrew Rowley SPOKANE, WASH.

The profit from oil--we peaked in America in 1970 with 10 million bbl. a day. We're down to 5 [million bbl.] now. There will always be a place for oil, but we have to get over to the renewables, which are wind and solar, first. Those are assets that we have done nothing with in America.

In light of President Bush's record on the environment, do you think supporting the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth was a good choice, insofar as it contributed to his re-election? Brian Checco, BALTIMORE

Have I been disappointed Bush didn't make any meaningful move toward cleaner, domestic natural gas as an alternative to foreign oil? Probably. But did that weigh into my Swift Boat support? Not at all. I had serious questions about [John Kerry's] military service, and he never would answer them.

Do you believe it will be more difficult to mobilize a bipartisan environmental effort due to your past political affiliations? Kevin Buselmeier, BROOKLYN, N.Y.

I don't think my past political affiliations will have anything to do with it. I've worked very well on the Pickens Plan with the Democrat side and the Republican side. I've talked to both Senator McCain and Obama. And I've talked to Governor Palin. They took some of the things we talked about, and they use them in their speeches now.

Why do you all of a sudden want alternative energy when you have been an oilman your whole life? Have you separated yourself from the oil industry? Todd Weiler, SAN DIEGO

No, I haven't separated myself from the oil industry. I still believe that's a part of the solution. We're going to have to drill, we're going to have to do the renewables, and we've got to use natural gas, biofuels--any resource in America.

Do you believe the next Administration will have the ability to directly effect change in the economy, or will this economy shape the next Administration? Chris Hirsh, BERKELEY, CALIF.

The economy is overwhelming. There's no question we're in a recession. I think in another six months, we'll find out whether we can come out of it in the first half of 2010. I don't think we know what we're up against because we get surprises every week.

Would you ever consider a position as an energy czar in the next Administration? David Dalgleish COMSTOCK PARK, MICH.

I would consider anything that would help America.

Are you the Ross Perot of 2008? Or are you more like the Ralph Nader? John Gilmore, INDIANAPOLIS

I'm like the Boone Pickens. I don't think I'm like anybody else. Both Nader and Perot had some good ideas. But I'm still the only person in America with an energy plan. To date, there isn't anybody in Washington that I've found who really understands the energy problem.

Is the first billion really the hardest? Tom Sexton, WHITESBURG, KY.

Well, I was 70 before I made it, so I plowed for a long time before I made a billion.

What is the best advice you've received from anyone? Francisco Sarmiento SAN FRANCISCO

I can still remember one of the things my grandmother, who lived next door to me, [said when] I was 12 years old. She said, "Sonny, someday everybody has to sit on their own bottom." You're gonna be responsible for your life and what you do in your life. That's what she was telling me. Work hard.