New York, July 8, 2008 – At T. Boone Pickens’ press conference on Tuesday to announce his new wind turbine energy initiative, pickensplan.com, we found out the billionaire oilman’s preferred source of business news.  While standing in front of a team from Fox News readying for an interview – and just after wrapping an interview with Bloomberg – Pickens told an assistant, “Turn on CNBC.  I want to see what the markets are doing.”   This despite the fact that Fox launched a business news channel last year.  (The assistant actually tuned in MSNBC, we believe.)

Pickens made himself at home at the press conference at the Palace Hotel in New York City, even sitting down and removing his shoes at one point.  The conservative Texan wore a red necktie with a bear and butterfly pattern, and we heard someone wonder aloud if the tie was a reference to the Grateful Dead dancing bears logo. 

Pickens sees his new wind-based energy plan as a way to reduce America's dependence on oil – and a way to make money.