William Shatner’s ‘$30 billion pipeline’

William Shatner wants to raise $30 billion to build a water pipeline.

The 84-year-old Star Trek star isn’t slowing down in the slightest, as he continues to juggle several different technology, TV, book and charity projects.

And William has high hopes for utilising his star power to help alleviate the impact of California’s miserable drought.

“California’s in the midst of a four-year-old drought,” he noted during an interview with Yahoo Tech Mix. “They tell us there’s a year’s supply of water left. If it doesn’t rain next year, what do 20 million people in the breadbasket of the world do? In a place that’s the fifth-largest GDP — if California were a country, it’d be fifth in line — we’re about to be arid! What do you do about it?

“So I’m starting a Kickstarter campaign. I want $30 billion … to build a pipeline like the Alaska pipeline. Say, from Seattle — a place where there’s a lot of water. There’s too much water. How bad would it be to get a large, 4ft pipeline, keep it aboveground — because if it leaks, you’re irrigating! Bring [the water] down here and fill one of our lakes! Lake Mead!”

Although the project is no small feat, William doesn’t think it’s impossible to do.

The star is convinced with political support, the West Coast water pipeline could be built.

“No, it’s simple. They did it in Alaska — why can’t they do it along Highway 5? This whole area’s about to go under!” William said. “If I don’t make 30 billion, I’ll give the money to a politician who says, ‘I’ll build it.’ Obviously, it’s to raise awareness that something more than just closing your tap … so why not a pipeline?”