Boone Pickens on the Bus in Texas
In Texas, The Fort Worth Transportation Authority—The T, as it is known—is celebrating its 25th anniversary as a model urban transportation agency. T. Boone Pickens wanted to personally congratulate The T Board for having the foresight—20 years ago—to make the commitment to move its bus fleet from diesel fuel to compressed natural gas (CNG). He did so by riding a new CNG bus from Dallas to Fort Worth to speak at a Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce luncheon honoring the T’s 25-year history. Mr. Pickens joined company President Dick Ruddell on stage to address those in attendance in an informal conversational-style setting, where he made a point of commending The T for its pioneering conversion to CNG vehicles.
The T’s entire municipal bus fleet, as well as many of its utility vehicles, is powered by CNG and Mr. Pickens is urging Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) to follow the T’s lead by opting for CNG buses instead of diesel. DART needs to replace 537 buses in its aging fleet. Mr. Pickens says that for nearly 20 years, CNG buses have worked well for The T and would do the same for DART.
A central element of The Pickens Plan, which is designed to reduce U.S. foreign oil dependency by more than 30%, is the use of domestic natural gas in heavy-duty U.S. fleets. By riding The T’s bus fueled by clean-burning natural gas produced locally in North Texas, Mr. Pickens put his Pickens Plan directly into action. “I know it works,” Mr. Pickens proclaimed. “It's our answer to the problem.”
|
