On the one-year anniversary of the launch of his Pickens Plan, T. Boone Pickens declared “Energy Independence Day,” to curb U.S. addiction and dependence on foreign oil.

“From here on, July 8 will be recognized as Energy Independence Day,” Pickens says, “honoring the dedicated members of the Pickens Plan, our leaders in Washington who are taking action to promote energy reform, and the commitment of millions of Americans to break our addiction to foreign oil.”

Pickens supports legislation for the sale and use of vehicles that run on natural gas and a large bipartisan group of House and Senate leaders has formed in support of the legislation. Pickens launched the Pickens Plan on July 8, 2008.

“The Pickens Plan was launched to address what the energy industry veteran has called ‘the greatest transfer of wealth in human history, the approximately $475 billion the U.S. paid for foreign oil in 2008,’” his Pickens Plan organization reports.

“America now relies on foreign nations—many of them unfriendly to the U.S.—for nearly 70% of its oil needs.” This figure is the greatest threat to America’s economic and national security, Pickens says.

“America’s national and economic security depends on moving off foreign oil as quickly as possible—their commitment to keeping energy debate on the forefront is moving us one step closer,” Pickens says. “We’ve accomplished a lot in a year, including elevating this issue to the national agenda and pressing for immediate action.”

Pickens says much progress has been made, but a long road to a cleaner, less-oil-dependent U.S. lies ahead. In one year, the Pickens Plan has received 17 million hits on its website (pickensplan.com) and Pickens has secured 2.7 billion media impressions.

The organization reports, “Pickens traveled to 35 states, 74 cities and hosted 22 ‘Town Hall’ meetings to promote the plan and to educate Americans on the threat imported oil has on our economy and security.”

Approximately 450 bipartisan elected officials have signed the Pickens Pledge for Energy Independence, including 55 U.S. Representatives, 9 U.S. Senators, and 13 governors, according to the Pickens website.

Incentives to transform domestic energy production, transmission and distribution have been a success and legislation is focusing investments, gathered through tax credits, grants and loan guarantees, on renewable energy technology, the organization reports.

“Legislative initiatives moving forward in the House and Senate include a national renewable electricity standard, transmission reform, a green bank to finance America’s move to domestic energy sources, and conversion of trucking fleets to natural gas,” the organization reports.

Former vice president Al Gore says, “The United States of America, our country, is the only nation that can lead the world when a crisis like this looms. And, in order to lead the world, we have to restore the momentum and the can-do spirit that Boone Pickens exemplifies. Let’s go and let’s do this.”

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