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In one year, Pickens got Congress to take notice. Yesterday, Senators Orrin Hatch and Robert Menendez introduced a bill (co-sponsored by Majority Leader Harry Reid) that mirrors legislation working its way through the House. It would extend for 18 years tax credits for natural gas fuel, vehicle and infrastructure (gas stations of the sort Barack Obama supported as a senator) to get more natural gas vehicles into production.

Natural gas will take hold when there are pumping stations. To move that piece along, Pickens is targeting large companies with large fleets. It makes economic sense to replace aging gas vehicles with ones powered by cleaner natural gas.

AT&T Inc. has promised to spend $565 million over the next decade to buy 15,000 alternative fuel vehicles. At least $350 million of the investment will go toward purchasing 8,000 compressed natural gas vehicles. AT&T says it will help build about 40 compressed natural gas fueling stations.