The other night I was watching MTV and a commercial came on with an old guy talking in front of a bunch of windmills. It got my attention because here in Nebraska we are on the verge of multiplying our energy sources through wind. I listened, loved the commercial and went online to read more about the "Pickens Plan."
I signed up for their email updates and within 10 minutes I didn’t just get an obligatory email of "thanks for signing up, we will be in touch." Nope, that is too old-fashioned for Mr. Pickens. Instead I got a Facebook message from one of his folks telling me more about the plan. Now, that is very new media from an old skool kind of guy. But with gas prices now at over $4, I guess anything is possible when it comes to the issue of energy this year.
Come to find out I am not the only one who has heard about the Pickens Plan and is intrigued. I told the story above to three other young people this past week and they all had the same reaction, "yeah, I saw that commercial too, totally dig what the old guy is saying and the website."
Who is this old guy, Pickens?
Mr. Pickens is an oil tycoon who has, essentially, "saw the light." After years in the oil investment world and seeing America’s import of foreign oil grow from 24% to over 70%, Pickens decided to take a bold step and put a lot of money into a media campaign about his new energy plan (a lot being over $50 million). The plan is simple and essentially says America must get more energy from sustainable sources like the wind.
$50 million on pushing a plan, and a policy idea, out to the public is chump change compared to the over $700 billion dollars America sends overseas every year to foreign countries for oil. According to the Pickens’ website that $700 million is four times the annual cost of the Iraq war. It is no wonder why our government is in major debt right now and no wonder why so many of us think this Pickens guy standing in front of the windmills is alright.
If there is any year to put out a plan focusing on alternative energy and convincing America to get off foreign oil, this is the year. The hotly contested election not only at the top for President, but down ballot gives lots of room for folks like Pickens to push an idea and get some attention. Putting pressure on the candidates, policy makers and the public is needed, but will his $50 million media plan be enough, especially when it comes to young voters?
READ THE REST OF THIS POST AT MTV.COM