Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens opened an advertising campaign Tuesday in an attempt to bring more focus to solving the nation's energy crisis. With the nation struggling under high energy costs, people are looking for answers to the dilemma, especially with the presidential election drawing near. Senators John McCain and Barack Obama are offering different solutions. McCain has called for the construction of at least 45 new nuclear plants, while Obama considers nuclear energy as part of a broader approach, which would emphasize renewable fuels.
Under Pickens proposal - called the Pickens Plan - thousands of wind turbines would be constructed across the nation's wind belt, from Texas to the north. Pickens has already placed a $2 billion bet on his plan, and intends to spend more as the project progresses. When completed, Pickens says the project will generate enough power to meet 20 percent of the nation's electricity needs. Power from the project will begin coming on line in early 2011.