Pickens Primes Pump for a Mighty Wind

OKLAHOMA CITY -- T. Boone Pickens keeps hoping that Barack Obama or John McCain will surprise him with a last-minute endorsement of his plan for the U.S. to slash dependence on foreign oil by embracing its own natural resources instead.

If the country uses more wind to fuel its power plants and more natural gas to power its vehicles, the legendary oilman says, it could cut its use of foreign oil by one-third over the next decade alone.

It could also help big American companies, including hard-hit car makers such as Ford (F) and General Motors (GM), in the process.

"I have been disappointed in both candidates," Pickens told TheStreet.com earlier this month. "They didn't accept my plan -- and neither one of them has a plan."

But they did seem to listen. Since meeting with Pickens this summer, both candidates have stepped up their discussions of energy independence on the campaign trail. Moreover, during their televised debates, they specifically included wind and natural gas in their alternative energy plans.

With the country's annual tab for foreign oil approaching $700 billion, however, Pickens wants some action. He has called for the next President to adopt a national energy policy, which can meet the aggressive targets set forth in his own plan, within 100 days of taking office.

As a powerful billionaire who made his fortune in the oil patch, Pickens knows how to bend some ears. He has convinced dozens of federal lawmakers to sign the "Pickens Pledge," promising to break America's addiction to foreign oil, while persuading at least 10 state governors to do the same. He has even won over some big-name environmentalists - such as Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope -- with his planet-friendly vision.