Texas alone to pass Germany in Wind energy: Invests $4.9 Billion for Transmission lines
By Nick August 6, 2008
“Everything is bigger in Texas” is proven true, again with their growing commitment and investment in wind energy. Texas recently previously announced that they’re investing $4.9 billion for wind transmission lines which will be carrying electricity from the rural western part of the state to the more populous eastern cities like Dallas, San Antonio, Austin and Houston.
This development came along with T Boone Pickens‘ media bombardment and call for state and federal investment in wind, because the lack of transmission lines is one of, if not the largest, problem facing wind energy which generally operates in remote areas off of the grid.
These new transmission lines will be able to handle 18,500 megawatts of power by their completion in 2013, which will bring the state’s total wind energy production to over 20,000 megawatts of electricity - a figure easily allowing them to maintain the #1 wind producing state ranking, and even placing them close to producing more wind than Germany by themselves, according to the New York Times article (via below).
Wind energy, being a location-constrained resource, will need a big boost in public funding to become a major player in the US because much of the windiest spots in the US wind corridor are not on transmission lines or the grid, making this valuable resource worthless and unable to be harnessed by the masses. Essentially, it’s in the hands of lawmakers and the President, so try sending them a letter. And tack on Texas’ future rank as #2 nation in wind energy production to the list of things that make Texans think they’re bigger and better than everyone else.
Story via New York Times, National Academies
Topics: Energy, Government |
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