Worlds largest wind farm opens in Texas

[TxRider]

The article is from this week, but the video in it is a year old.

But this is helping to keep unemployment lower here, and I believe it overtook what used to be the worlds largest wind farm down in the desert in SW Texas. I have a couple of cousins working on wind generators now, one formerly an Enron employee that built natural gas generators.

Seems the whole west side of the state will be covered with windmills before they are done.

You can watch the huge blades heading north from Houston on the interstate on extra long trucks about one every 15-30 minutes for the last couple of years it seems.

But we still have a huge coal plant industry here as well.

http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/10/05/worlds-largest-wind-farm-debuts-in-texas/

[Kali]

1. I remember seeing the first windmill parts being hauled

on the interstate years ago - the top "pod" part where the blades attach (I don't know what it is called) - they looked like some kind of submarine vehicle - took a long time before we finally figured out what they were.:blush: :rofl:

[CoffeeCat]

2. A wind farm...in TEXAS?

Is that what they're now calling the Bush family reunion?

[TxRider]

3. Not one, the two largest wind farms in the world

And taking the U.S. to the worlds top wind power producing nation on the planet.

If the Bush's held a family reunion, it would probably be in Connecticut or Mass.

[redqueen]

4. Thank you.

Prescott was where when he was funding Nazis? Not Texas.

[snooper2]

5. Imangine that, us dumb Texans actually do more than drink oil for breakfast

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

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[Joe Fields]

19. It just goes to show that EVEN Texas can do something right, once in awhile.

[ctaylors6]

15. you wouldn't believe which governor had a hand in starting wind energy in TX

http://www.practicalenvironmentalist.com/energy-efficiency/perhaps-al-gore-should-ask-george-w-bush-for-help-in-making-his-house-more-energy-efficient.htm

[TxRider]

21. And Rick Perry as well.

But it's for big business and money, why would they object?

[TheCoxwain]

6. I am guessing it is strategically placed right next to Rick Perry's Ass ..... errr...

er .. I mean mouth ..


wait a minute ... I am sure it is his ass ...

NO -- it is his mouth..



OK I give up .. I cant tell the difference

[TxRider]

8. Nahh, that would overspeed the mills and ruin em, or rot them away..

[blogslut]

7. Yep

If I'm not mistaken, Texas leads the nation in wind energy production.

[TxRider]

10. I believe there are only 3-4 countries that make more wind power than Texas

Unfortunately I believe he majority of the manufacturing for the wind mills is from Europe, Germany specifically.

We passed up California for wind power back in 2006, and now produce almost double what Cali does.

We need to get the manufacturing going here, which is now happening.

And since Texas has it's own power grid, it's been easier to get the required transmission lines extended and in place, one think Gov. goodhair has done right.

We're now looking at offshore wind farms and even more expansion of wind parks over the three largest in the nation that are already in place in Texas.

Green jobs for the win..

Now if congress would give a capital gains tax exemption for investment in alternative energy companies, this kind of switch to green energy might catch on in a big way.

[rucky]

9. Is this T. Boone Pickens' project?

[TxRider]

11. No, he hasn't been able to get enough traction for his.

And he lost too much money in the market collapse last year to fund enough of it himself.

[blogslut]

18. No

Pickens' plan was to create a wind farm in West Texas but his real intention was steal water from the Ogallala Aquifer. Fortunately, he neglected to apply in time for some licensing and his little scam fell through.

Just the same, there will be wind farms in the Panhandle.

Here's a site that provides data on wind energy in Texas:

http://www.windenergy.org

[cark]

12. 20 yrs

There are going to look nice standing there in 20 years when the maintenance costs are greater then their value if subsidies are discontinued.

[rucky]

13. You mean like the coal fired plants now?

[TxRider]

20. Depends on what happens with coal and oil

If oil and gas prices are double, and cap and trade makes coal expensive, those maintenance costs might be a far cheaper deal.

Minimum they can be cut down and sold for scrap.

[DCKit]

22. What, no rah-rah plug for Nnew-que-lur while you're at it?

You're gettin' an "Incomplete" for that post.

[proteus_lives]

14. Good for Texas!

:thumbsup:

[onestepforward]

16. This is great news!

I've been using 100% wind generated electricity for over 10 years now. First with Green Mountain and now with Spark Energy. It is only slightly more expensive, but well worth it. We vote with our dollars!

I think that Texas should also get into solar generated electricity. We have lots of sunshine here!
:)

[Subdivisions]

17. This is excellent news...

Any step towards reducing the use of fossil fuels to generate electricity is a giant step at this point.