The National Press Club held a lovely luncheon the other day and invited Ted Turner and T. Boone Pickens to spread their wisdom among the prostrate press.
North American Wind Power’s website described it as a debate, but our understanding of the word “debate” is that a successful one requires opposing sides. In this case, Turner and Pickens appeared to be singing from the same hymnal.
Of course, they both called for immediate action by Congress – Pickens to protect his substantial investment in wind power and Turner to protect his substantially dwindling reputation as a forward thinker.
But let’s concentrate on Turner, because Pickens commits the double cardinal sins of (1) being in the position to profit enormously if Congress were to actually do something about wind power, and (2) being boring.
Here’s how NAWP.com tells Turner’s tale:
Turner, founder and former head of CNN, agreed with Pickens that natural gas is part of the solution to the U.S.’ energy problem, which has been dramatized lately by rising gasoline prices. But Turner sees natural gas as only a “bridge fuel.”
“In 20 years, there will be no fossil fuel,” said Turner, who asserted that cars will run on electricity in 20 years.
Despite the fact that the world has greater proven oil reserves now than at any time in history, Turner says the world’s gas tank will be on empty by 2031. But the Mouth from the South was just getting started.
“We need renewable energy for a world without pollution, so kids won’t get asthma.”
President Obama tried the same argument last week, claiming that coal-fired power plants cause asthma and was rapidly slapped down by health experts who said the cause of asthma really isn’t known.
Hard to believe that one man could pack so much misinformation into two short sentences, but let’s face it, Ted Turner is no ordinary man.
Source: North American Wind Power
