One billion dollars every day.
That's how much money we're sending overseas to fund our dangerous and growing addiction to OPEC oil.
This year, I've spent a lot of time talking about natural gas, and the need to tap into everything domestic--from nuclear to natural gas, from wind to ethanol, from solar to domestic oil--to address our energy needs.
Our dependence on OPEC oil is a national crisis. It threatens our economy, our national security and our environment. How much of a concern is it? Eight presidents spanning two generations have now pledged to solve the problem, and all have failed. Instead, the dependency problem has only worsened.
There's growing interest in my take on renewable energy--wind and solar--to help generate electricity, joining natural gas and other resources. While my proposed wind farm in Pampa is no longer feasible, I remain engaged in wind development initiatives in the US and Canada, and many others have answered the call and started erecting their own turbines. Thanks to what we did as part of the Pickens Plan, there are wind farms already in development from Texas all the way up to North Dakota.
That said, we aren't going to be able to solve the OPEC oil addiction problem without focusing on transportation. This is why natural gas plays such an important role in the framework of the Pickens Plan. Since nearly one-third of all of the oil used in America is used in heavy trucks, natural gas can have an immediate impact on our daily oil needs.
We've got more than enough domestic natural gas to meet our needs--provide electricity, power vehicles and satisfy other important needs.
Reversing 40 years of no energy plan in America takes time, commitment and leadership. My supporters and I have elevated and amplified the energy dialogue in America at a time when China, Iran and others are implementing their energy plans to get them through the coming decades.
We are a growing nation and one that needs energy to fuel that growth and help ensure we remain the most powerful nation in the world.
Can we get it done? We have the resources. We have the expertise and innovation. We have the will. We simply need to put all the pieces of the puzzle together to finish the job. I'm committed to doing just that--we can't let another decade pass us by.
Failure to act soon will ensure a third straight generation of failure and brand us as the dumbest crowd ever.