T. Boone Pickens Endorses Gov. Rick Perry for Re-election

T. Boone Pickens Endorses Gov. Rick Perry for Re-election

September 22, 2009

Environment and Natural ResourcesCampaign UpdateEndorsements

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry today received the endorsement of energy entrepreneur T. Boone Pickens for re-election in 2010.

“Governor Perry is a proven leader who has been instrumental in helping Texas maintain a key role in the national economy, despite the many challenges we face,” said Pickens. “He understands what needs to be done to address the threat of foreign oil imports and how we should begin using a cleaner, cheaper, domestic option – Texas’ abundant natural gas supplies.”

“Boone has been an undisputed success in making Texas’ energy industry the economic pillar it is for our state today,” said Gov. Perry. “He has been a powerful partner in our state’s efforts to not only cultivate our fossil fuels industry but to diversify our energy sources so Texas can remain a leader in the worldwide energy market. I’m honored to have Boone supporting my campaign and look forward to working with him as we keep Texas at the forefront of the global and national economy.”

Utilizing natural gas in heavy duty fleet applications – along with an expanded use of renewables such as wind and solar energy in power generation – is a key element of “The Pickens Plan” to reduce U.S. foreign oil dependence. The U.S. now depends on foreign nations – many unfriendly to America – for nearly 70 percent of its oil consumption.

Pickens is founder and chairman of BP Capital Management, one of the nation’s most successful energy investment funds. He unveiled The Pickens Plan in July 2008 as a grassroots campaign to address America’s foreign oil dependency crisis that threatens the nation’s economy, environment and national security.

Pickens founded Mesa Petroleum in 1956 and subsequently grew it into the largest independent oil company in the United States. Additionally, Time magazine featured him on its 2009 list of the 100 most-influential people in the world, Financial World named him “CEO of the Decade” in 1989 and the Oil and Gas Investor listed him as one of the “100 Most Influential People of the Petroleum Century”.

Pickens joins the Texas Municipal Police Association, Texas Chemical Council, Texas Society of Professional Engineers, RNC Committeewoman Cathie Adams, Texas Right to Life, Houston Realty Business Coalition, Texas Apartment Association, Texas Republican County Chairman Association President Linda Rogers, Heidi Group Founder Carol Everett, Texas Alliance for Life, Texas Department of Public Safety Officers Association PAC, Texas Home School Coalition PAC, Texans for Life President Kyleen Wright, Conservative Republicans of Texas President Dr. Steve Hotze, Free Market Foundation President Kelly Shackelford, Texas Chiropractic Association, Americans for Prosperity State Director Peggy Venable, the Texas State Association of Fire Fighters, Texas Association of Realtors, Texas Civil Justice League PAC, Texas Oil Gas Association President Rob Looney, Concerned Women for America State Director Ann Hettinger, Texas Optometric Association PAC and Texas Pest Control Association in their endorsement of Gov. Perry.