In 1970, West Texas State University started wind energy research which led to the formation of the Alternative Energy Institute (AEI) in 1977. Since then, the generation of power through wind has had a lasting impact in Texas, with the first of many 80-meter towers (more than 240 feet) being erected at Big Spring in 1999, and Texas has never looked back.
www.en.wikipedia.org
Lifestyle
Texas Wind Power Generation Blows Away the Competition
By |
Title Holder for Largest Production of Wind Power
Photo: elp.com
In July 2008, utility officials in Texas gave approval to a $4.9 billion plan for new transmission lines to carry power generated by wind from West Texas to cities such as Dallas. It would add transmission lines to the grid that were capable of move vast amounts of power and was the largest investment in renewable energy in U.S. history. Today’s wind power projects in Texas consist of many wind farms connected via this same grid, now totaling more than 17,000 megawatts over 40 various projects. With this, the state of Texas produces more wind power than any other state, accounting for 9% of all electricity generated within the state during 2014.
Jobs, Jobs, and More Jobs
Photo: thinkprogress.org
Wind projects not only benefit electricity generation, but they provide an alternate source of revenue for farmers. Farmers may lease their land to wind developers for either a set rental per turbine or for a small percentage of gross annual revenue from the planned wind project – neither negatively impacting their farming nor grazing practices. With the ability to lease land to wind developers, farmers generate an additional revenue stream for the farm as well as continue to create thousands of jobs across the state in smaller communities – an additional boon for the state to offset potential lost jobs in the oil industry.
Meeting Demand, and Then Some
Photo: fortune.com
Due to the expansion of the Texas’ Renewable Portfolio Standard (a regulation that requires the increased production of power from renewable sources), the growing wind power market helped the state meet its 2015 renewable energy goal of 5,000 new megawatts of power from renewable sources. To put this into perspective, one megawatt alone is enough to typically power 500 residences in Texas.
Continuing to Blow Away the Competition
Photo: searchforenergy.com
The number of commercially attractive wind power sites in Texas will grow as development costs fall due to improvements in technology – an anticipated time for continued expansion and growth in the industry for the state, which shows no signs of relenting in the title fight for wind power expansion in the U.S.
References:
