America is Saudi Arabia of gas -- Pickens

DALLAS, Nov. 10 (UPI) -- There is enough natural gas in the United States to supply the country with its energy needs for the next century, said energy advocate T. Boone Pickens.

"America is the Saudi Arabia of natural gas," said Pickens. "It's time for us to use this abundant resource to end the cycle of foreign oil dependency and addiction that is making us less safe and more economically insecure."

He notes U.S. dependence on foreign oil continues to grow exponentially. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, current consumption translates to a spending spree of $594,359 every minute on foreign oil.

Pickens says appropriate exploitation of domestic natural gas can "immediately" reduce dependence on foreign oil while creating a buffer for fuel cells and other technologies to make gains.

He points to a research study by the Colorado School of Mines that puts the estimated natural gas reserves in the United States at more than 2,000 trillion cubic feet.

"With new drilling techniques and technology giving us access to the incredible reserve of natural gas contained in the shale fields, we have more than 100 years supply of natural gas," he said.