By now, most FLW members are somewhat familiar with the Pickens Plan. This is a big step from 2007, when Boone began promoting his agenda in national television advertisements, just prior to the 2008 presidential elections.

We are making great progress, but one key element I want to remind everyone is to remember this one thing – House Bill 1380..

Why is this so important to all of us? There are several reasons.

First of all, last week, OPEC had a major meeting to discuss crude oil output and other issues. The meeting was a complete failure. Countries like Iran and Venezuela, known for their unstable ideas and agendas, helped create chaos withing the meetings, which concluded with little progress whatsoever.

Boone is very concerned about this, and predicts the price of oil to rise significantly over the summer as a result of these meetings.

This instability within OPEC will not go away. We are, and will continue to be dependent upon these nations for our energy needs until the U.S. adopts a comprehensive energy policy. Right now, many, including President Obama, see the Pickens Plan as the policy that will allow us to escape the grasp that the Middle Eastern countries currently have over us.

Much of this lays with House Bill 1380, known by many as the Pickens Bill. As I mentioned in my last blog, this bill, which would enable much of the U.S. heavy diesel truck fleet to be converted to natural gas, has the potential to reduce our dependence on OPEC by around 30 percent. Co2 emissions will also fall as a result of natural gas being over 30 percent cleaner than oil.

Boone is hoping for a vote on House Bill 1380 before Congress takes their August recess. As anglers and citizens we can really help this bill gain steam. All you have to do is contact any of your state representatives and let them know you support House Bill 1380, and the Pickens Plan.

One call or e-mail is huge. Most of the political offices know if one person makes the effort to call, there are between 500-1000 other people who support the same position – sort of like polling statistics.

Boone Pickens is a huge supporter of not only FLW and its members, but the U.S., and our sustainability economically and environmentally. We have a great ally in Boone, and I encourage all FLW members to get behind his initiatives.