T. Boone Pickens Orders $2B of Wind Turbines
T. Boone Pickens, our favorite Texas-oil-baron-turned-wind-wildcatter, has placed an order for 667 wind turbines from GE for a total cost of $2 billion. The turbines will have a generating capacity of 1,000 megawatts, enough to power 300,000 homes. The order was made through Pickens’ Mesa Power for his Pampa Wind Project in the Texas Panhandle, which he aims to turn into the world’s largest wind farm, generating some 4,000 megawatts of power as early as 2014.
This has been a week of big wind announcements. The Department of Energy released a report optimistically predicting America’s ability to satisfy 20 percent of its electricity needs with wind power by 2030. Across the pond, Scottish & Southern Energy awarded $3 billion in contracts to Texas-based Fluor and Germany’s Siemens to create the world’s largest offshore wind farm. The Greater Gabbard project would produce 504 megawatts and SSE plans to have power generation start by 2011.
Pickens, who made his billions in the Texas oil industry and founded BP Capital Management, has become a very vocal opponent of long-term oil investments, predicting that oil will hit $150 a barrel. And speaking yesterday at the 2008 Alternative Fuels and Vehicles Conference and Expo in Las Vegas, Pickens had some strong words against biofuels, saying:
“Biofuels will never amount to but 5 percent of the requirement of this country…Ethanol is a sad deal…It’s an ugly baby…”
After his speech he sat down with reporters and discussed energy politics, during which he stressed that transmission issues are still the biggest problem facing America’s energy supply. He also said he wants to see the equivalent of the Eisenhower highway system for power distribution.
Transmission lines are no doubt adding to the cost of building wind farms in Texas. The state could spend anywhere between $2.95 billion and $6.38 billion on laying new lines, according to a recent report. And T. Boone Pickens has also said his wind farm will cost as much as $10 billion to build.
Will Obama be the Eisenhower of transmission lines?
Hard to say. Also, what is the optimal level of subsidy for that sort of thing? Would heavy government money lead to wastefulness and cronyism? Probably.
[...] T. Boone Pickens Orders $2B of Wind Turbines: Our favorite Texas-oil-baron-turned-wind-wildcatter, has placed an order for 667 wind turbines from GE for a total cost of $2 billion. This is just the start of his plan to build the world’s largest wind farm which he says will have a capacity of 4 gigawatts. [...]
[...] including the cost of building his own transmission lines, will cost a bloomin’ $12 billion. He’s already put in an order for at least $2 billion worth of wind turbines from GE, which is enough to power 300,000 homes (the [...]
I want to know how to get ahold of Mr Pickens. I have the same situation in Washington and want to do basically the same thing. My husband, on the other hand, does not want to invest or get involved. Anyone know how to get ahold of Mr Pickens?
I think this is the way to go. I saw a video on GreenEnergyTV.com about Google’s REchargeIt car, electric car, plug in powered by solar and this can be powered by wind too. This is the way to go America!
Here is a link to this cool video: http://greenenergytv.com/Watch.aspx?1077011807
Jacob
Dear Mr. Pickens,
I have farmed for more than 30 yrs. I have also drilled irrigation wells when i was younger. I am currently a director of the Upper Elkhorn Natural Resource District here in notheast NE. I have a plan for not only Nebraska but for the entire country as well. I would very much appreciate meeting with you to discuss issue’s from education to Washington, D. C.
Sincerely,
Jerry Heithoff
52455 839RD
Elgin, NE. 68636
402-843-8815
Dear Mr. T.Boone Pickens,
My name is Soren Nielsen and I am a native of Denmark,my home town in Denmark is Brande where the Siemens Wind Power Company is located.
I now live in the Dallas Fort Worth Area, I would like to meet with you to discuss the possibility of working for you,as I might be an asset for you working in your “Plan” for wind power in the future.
I respectfully thank you in advance,
Soren Nielsen.
3425 wendell Drive
Fort Worth,Tx 76117
Ph:817-834-3580
Hello T Bone
I would love more than anything, the chance to work on this noble endeavor along with you.
I have additional ideas to thin out a predetermined % of our equipment, (to decrease great loose in your present areas should something happen). along your corridor. This separate market would be handled differently, and reach and appeal to a different segment of energy users. Different Politics, Different How to.
Presently, I map utilities,design, and QC their Plants.As a Project Manager I can bring a lot to the table. I need a meaning that will help define my propose on the planet.
Please, call or email. I will leave my time open on whichever day and time you setup to reach me.
Ron DeRogatis
15775 86th Road North
Loxahatchee, FL 33470-2838
561-791-1404
Rx202020@yahoo.com
I’m a dedicated musician/singer/songwriter that has written and recorded over sixty songs in the past two and a half years. I write mostly music with a positive message, and I could help you with your message to promote your wonderful products. You may listen at
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=79724708
Mark Christopher
817-454-7298
Fort Worth, Texas
I ask the same question I keep hearing….why is this intelligent, generous man with a huge social conscience NOT RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT? Now is the time we need someone like him the most.
Hello Lorena…
here is Mr. Pickens website:
http://www.pickensplan.com
good luck
I AM WITH MrPickens 100%
Mr. Pickens has the right stuff. A determined man that knows what this country needs. A visionary that sees what direction we must take if we are to remain a powerful allie in this world. He is a man of wealth with an abundance of wisdom. I salute you Mr. Pickens and marvel at your next big scale project for the better of this country.
Daniel
Dallas,Tx
[...] wind turbine market to reach $12 billion by the end of this year and then $16 billion by 2015. T. Boone alone has already ordered an initial $2 billion worth of turbines and is rumored to planning to spend several more [...]
Dear Mr. Pickens,
I have been following your wind power plan with great interest, and I look forward to reading about the results of this plan.
I have a concept for a significant improvement in the gas mileage of cars, targeted at greater than 100 mpg, that I would like to discuss with you.
Please advise,
Sincerely yours,
Abe Gordon
[...] Boone is buying his turbines from a longtime favorite of this blog, General Electric [...]
[...] not surprisingly, is more concerned about transmission corridors than environmental fallout stressed that transmission issues are still the biggest problem facing America’s energy supply. He also [...]
Hello, Mr. T Boone Pickens,
I am a homeschooled 13 year old who would like to support your efforts with my talents. I would like to help in fundraising by being a musical attraction to help you. My mama and I read a lot about you and feel very strongly that you have the right idea. Please email me and I can help. I want to help. email my mama’s email at jobelle@therubyjaneshow.com. I want to be a part of a solution for our country.
Ruby Jane
Ontario agency backs inventors with $100,000
Supports lab-extraction system, noise reduction for choppers, windmills
Last Updated: Monday, November 10, 2008 | 4:13 PM ET Comments0Recommend7
CBC News
The noise from wind turbines makes them unwelcome in some communities.The noise from wind turbines makes them unwelcome in some communities. (CBC)
An Ontario agency has given two inventors $100,000 each to help bring their projects to market.
Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) said Monday that Ameer Taha, co-founder of Certo Labs Inc., and Smart Rotor Systems founder Kostyantyn Khomutov were co-winners of a fellowship for technological entrepreneurship.
Taha’s Certo-Ex is an automated instrument that allows users to simply, quickly and cheaply take lab samples and break them down.
“By allowing scientists to work with multiple samples at once, in a fraction of the time now required, it’s estimated the Certo-Ex could reduce lab costs by as much as 90 per cent,” OCE said in a news release.
Khomutov’s system is a unique technology that can control vibration and noise produced by wind turbines and helicopter rotors, cutting noise pollution and maintenance costs.
The noise from wind farms irritates some people, but the system means turbines could be located closer to population centres, OCE said.
Taha and Khomutov won the 2008 Martin Walmsley Fellowship for Technological Entrepreneurship, intended to help turn OCE-funded university-based research into companies.
A panel picked the winners based on the technology, commercial viability and business planning.
Martin Walmsley was instrumental in founding OCE in 1987.
[...] said his deadline for building the farm has now been pushed back all the way to 2011, when the wind turbines are due to be [...]
I have retired from the Army and now, I have worked 7 miles off shore in Alabama for 4 years now and I can’t remember a day when the wind was not blowing. Sure inland is not a good place for wind-power but off-shore is great. Why are you just stopping in Tx how can I get you to push out, on the coast lines and help us in Al go more green. Test sites are easy getting the help to do them is the hard part
Is T.B.P. oferring stock options in this new wind farm. I would like to invest.
I would like to invest in the wind energy companies and would like to know how to invest in Mr. Pickens projects.
Smart article.. Will come back again=)