Critique of Pickens Plan misses the point

August 7, 2008

On the Internet, it is especially easy to be a critic from afar, breaking down or building up different things with emotions and imagery rather than critical thought and analysis.  This seems to be the case with recent allegations that the Pickens Plan is merely an elaborate attempt by T. Boone to distract people from his real goal of  “drain[ing] the Ogallala Aquifer.”

It is no secret that Pickens has had a controversial plan to pump water out of the Ogallala Aquifer and transport it to population centers in Texas, such as Dallas.  While we are opposed to recklessly drawing down limited resources, like the Ogallala Aquifer, for short-term development, this fact alone does not mean the Pickens Plan (the proposal to shift 20% of our energy generation to wind) is some sort of massive bait-and-switch. 

The main problem with their argument is that the Ogallala Aquifer plan is related to the $10 billion wind farm project that Pickens is currently developing in the Texas Panhandle, which is going forward regardless of whether the Pickens Plan is implemented.  Pickens’ local wind and water projects are related because recent changes to the state law in Texas (advocated by Pickens) allows for alternative energy and water transmission to share the same right-of-way.  The water issue, that some websites and bloggers are wringing their hands over, is a discrete issue within Texas that is not directly related to the overarching policy shift the Pickens Plan proposes.

With that said, we really have no idea what is truly in Pickens’ heart with respect to the Pickens Plan.  Like all people, only an individual can know their true intentions.  But an objective look at the evidence indicates Pickens is being sincere.  As we noted yesterday, Pickens doesn’t even claim that his plan is primarily intended to save the environment.  Instead, his stated purpose is to eliminate our dependence on foreign oil. And the fact that he is “rich” and a “Bush supporter” is not evidence of duplicity.  Will he make a profit if his plan is enacted?  Of course, since he is the biggest developer of wind power in the country.  But there is nothing inherently wrong with that. 

Rather, it is the very alignment of profit and national interest that has created the current environment where a proposal like the Pickens Plan or Gore’s 10 Year Plan are actually contemplated.  It’s not like we just realized this year that global warming and dependence on foreign oil is a bad thing.  Instead, it is that fuel prices have finally gone up enough to make it profitable to pursue alternative sources.  This alignment of profit and public interest is our best chance to make a real shift in the way we power our country.  To dismiss attempts at change because they have a profit interest related to them is to miss the biggest opportunity we’ve had in a generation to improve the environment and our country.  Not to mention, those criticizing the Pickens Plan based on the Ogallala Aquifer issue are making a moot argument since these are two distinct issues.

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Comments

One Comment on Critique of Pickens Plan misses the point

  1. Brooks on Thu, 30th Oct 2008 3:49 pm

    2. We’re developing a pro/con article on the Pickens Plans on Debatepedia. You’re welcome to have a look to further examine the different critiques and supporting arguments.

    http://wiki.idebate.org/index.php/Debate:_Pickens_US_energy_plan#Yes

    [Reply]

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