I'm not a Texan, but as the saying goes, I got here as fast as I could.
Before arriving, I had only a passing familiarity with T. Boone Pickens,
the legendary Texas oil executive. Once I heard Pickens speak, though, I
was riveted. He has big ideas, and this billionaire has a way of making
things happen.

In many ways, Pickens is Texas (despite the fact that he sends his money
to Oklahoma State University). And his evolving career path mirrors some
of the important ways that Texas is changing. The oil industry made
Pickens rich. But he recognizes that clean energy -- particularly natural
gas and wind -- will be the future.

Congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle have listened to
Pickens' pitch, and although they've gutted much of the energy bill,
the oilman's plan to invest in natural gas vehicles has survived. In
Dallas, we'll get a chance to hear about the Pickens Plan and why it's
essential that we stop importing oil from the enemy. On Saturday
morning at the NCEW convention, you'll find me in the front row.

In the meantime, you can enjoy a couple sneak previews.

-- Pickens isn't quite as artistic as the guy in the UPS commercials,
but he makes great use of a whiteboard while outlining his ideas in this
new video:

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1842760405?bctid=1147918
22001

-- See highlights from Pickens' recent appearance on Larry King Live
here:

larrykinglive.blogs.cnn.com/2010/07/20/icymi-t-boone-pickens-2/

Dallas billionaire T. Boone Pickens checks a few facts during an interview at his office in Dallas with the Dallas Morning News. A year has passed since Mr. Pickens brought the no-foreign-oil conservatives to the debate about clean energy and has helped pave the way for new federal energy policies. (Jim Mahoney/The Dallas Morning News 2009.) 

Note: This is part of a series written by NCEW members from across the country about various parts of this year's convention in Dallas. 

Click here to see previous reasons why people will be at the convention in Dallas.

Colleen McCain Nelson is an editorial writer for the Dallas Morning News.