He has never been one to mince words. That trait was on display when T. Boone Pickens, oilman, entrepreneur and natural gas advocate, spoke at Hart Energy’s 3rd annual Developing Unconventional Gas-East Conference and Exhibition in Pittsburgh in November. His opening remarks updated the audience on the Pickens Plan, which promotes greater use of natural gas, and the NAT GAS Act working its way through Congress. Then, he participated in a question-and-answer session with Oil and Gas Investor editor-in-chief Leslie Haines.

About the only topic the candid Pickens preferred not ...