January 7, 2009 Pickens' big plan for U.S. energy future Play video

(NECN/KTRK) - Former oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens has been on the lookout for alternative ways to power homes and cars across America.

In Houston, Pickens told a crowd that it is time to stop drilling. Heavily invested in alternative energies, Pickens has plans for wind power and natural gas.

Pickens said only 142,000 vehicles in the United States use natural gas, a cleaner burning fuel, because oil had been in abundance and at a good price for so long.

Also part of his plan, using windmills to create electricity to power the nation's homes.

KTRK's Ted Oberg reports from Rice University.