McALESTER, Okla. (AP) - Billionaire Texas oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens takes his strategy for easing the U.S. dependence on foreign oil to an overflow crowd McAlester.

More than 1,000 people packed into the Southeastern Expo Center yesterday to hear the Holdenville native outline his ``Pickens Plan.''

Governor Brad Henry introduced Pickens, who discussed his plan for using a series of wind turbines along a wind-swept corridor stretching from Texas to North Dakota.

Under Pickens' plan, power generated by the turbines would free up 22 percent of the natural gas now used to generate electric power. The natural gas, in turn, could be used as an alternative fuel source for gasoline and diesel engines.

Pickens says the country has had no leadership in Washington willing to tackle the energy issue.

Pickens also stressed that his plan would revitalize parts of rural America, like Oklahoma, where wind and natural gas are abundant.