Texas Approves Big Plan To Transmit Wind Power

Texas regulators have approved a $4.93 billion wind-power transmission project, providing a major lift to the development of wind energy in the state.

The planned web of transmission lines will carry electricity from remote western parts of the state to major population centers like Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio. The lines can handle 18,500 megawatts of power, enough for 3.7 million homes on a hot day when air-conditioners are running.

The project will ease a bottleneck that has become a major obstacle to development of the wind-rich Texas Panhandle and other areas suitable for wind generation.

Read the full story here

-OR-

Read about T. Boone Pickens' high-profile case for wind power (and money?) in Texas:

::Pickens Plan: Pickens Invests In, Pitches Alternative Energy
::Carl Pope on the Pickens plan: Fox edits out reality of oil crisis and T. Boone and me

Comments

[surfcitysteven]

In case you were wondering, no that is not Texas in that picture. It is the NREL site between Boulder and Golden, CO. It is at the mouth of Eldorado canyon where Chinook winds get up to 110 mph. Lousy power production there, but great testing.

[noneIn2008]

And you thought T. Boone was spending $100 million as a social benefit? He was buying public influence to make even more money from government hand outs. If wind would have made money directly, he would not need to buy political votes.

[geobushono]

While Pickens is waving his hand over *here*, talking about wind power.very kumbaya,..­.......
he certainly isn't telling you that he's buying up a couple hundred thousand acres for the WATER rights in TX........­.he'll just use his windpower to power the pumps that send the water to the big, thirsty cities in TX........­.........t­here's always something.
an altruistic t.boon pickens, not hardly....­......he needs investors.

http://seekingalpha.com/article/24410-t-boone-pickens-invests-in-water-should-you

[Marlyn]

As someone from the right said, "If it is profitable, it will happen."

[Binea]

what happens if a rash or Tornadoes knocks down a bunch of windmills ?

[Wilburrr]

...well, first, all the lights in your house get REALLY BRIGHT and then your computer explodes..­.

[ErnestineBass]

ROFLMAO!!! Now THAT was damm funny, Wilburrrrrrrr!

[PKSSK]

Does anyone here know anything about the effectiveness of wind turbines???? Where and when have they been tested for their effectiveness and how do we access and check the credentials of the sources of these results????What corporation's are the major manufacturers of these turbines and what is the profit margin versus cost to the majority of taxpaying American's??? Wake up America and protect yourself from future duping by the American Corp elite who only solicit on their own behalf, in the form of profits. Let us do our homework first, before we enter another energy (like oil and gas) source that promotes profit over the people, just like our current gas, health care, auto insurance and food markets have only been a benefit to the bottom line of those who contol the price and quality, which is constructed soley to benefit their shareholders, not the people who have to pay for it.

[scottmhall]

Too bad we can't use your negativity and pessimism as a source of alternative energy...i­t could power Dallas. I know we have to be concerned about big oil...but big wind?

You seem to be blowing a lot of air yourself.

[KillTheMessenger]

You can get all the engineering data from the manufacturers. GE is the largest one in the US, I believe and it is number two worldwide after Vestas in Denmark.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wind_turbine_manufacturers

There are, by the way, no easy estimates for efficiency. You have to pick the right equipment for your site. It's not a catalog or internet order business. The manufacturer will usually work with engineering companies which are in the site surveying and deployment business to build a working wind farm for you. They are not interested in unhappy customers, so they will generally try to optimize their system for your needs.

In any case, the only time you will ever see the cost of these installations is in your electricity bill. And it will probably not make a big difference either way.

[Liberoservative]

Also, the electrical grid will need to be updated...­. and you know what that means??

Lots of new JOBS!!!!!!!

Go GREEN!!!

[surfcitysteven]

Yes, I do. I worked at the site in the picture for years. It is the NREL site in Colorado between Boulder and Golden at the mouth of Eldorado canyon at Rocky Flats. It is where they test the effectiveness. Fun job, we got to break blades and put blades on turbines for tests.They test bladesand turbinesfor major companies like Zond. Yeah you never heard of Zond, but it was a major player before repubes got their way. Been a few years since I have been there, but it is where you need to go for your answers. NREL has a website.

[darthdarcy]

Ironic here Texas has a $10.7 Billion dollar surplus from this year alone due to gouging the rest of America for Gas and Oil Prices, and they are going with this Wind Turbine project which is great and the way to go for America's future we have T Boone Pickens to thank his vision and money of course...

We could put Wind Turbines all the way through the Wind Belt of the East Central United States all the way up to Canada that's one big part of the answer...!

[JPFL]

I bet T. Boone Pickens and his 300 billion dollar hedge fund are real happy with this. He and the other swiftboaters will have all sorts of money to go after Obama now...

[marignymitch]

Judging from the photo illustration, the scenery's improved of late in Texas.

[BearsLeft]

Nope. Texans are moving to Colorado in droves, as soon as they can afford to leave.

[springsm]

They have been doing that for yeasr...fi­rst as obnoxious tourists, fisherpeople and now for living. Too bad.

[JulieSA]

Oh please. I wish. The traffic here is getting worse and worse. Texas is one of the fastest growing states. Four of the top ten fastest growing cities are in Texas.

[ranch111]

Yeah, all those oil wells, cactus, tumbleweeds, cattle and cowboys can get old, since that is what most people that haven't been to Texas think of when they try to imagine it in their tiny, little minds.

[surfcitysteven]

It's Boulder CO.

[ranch111]

A real honest to goodness West Texas wind farm. That wasn't too hard, was it?

http://www.greenpowergovs.org/wind/LCRA%20turbines.jpg

[RobtBrock]

Texas has a lot of wind. And a lot of frijoles, too.

[rwe]

And when will any in the LibMsm question why Kerry and Ted Kennedy won't allow wind farms off the Mass coast?

[Pdubya]

how will it be paid for?

[KillTheMessenger]

It will be paid for by your electricity bill and possibly tax dollars. That's how they always pay for this kind of stuff.

[plages]

Congratulations Texas, as it sure beats California's old and very stale political grubber's!

[Warmglobe]

And my state "represented" by Kennedy and Kerry who have been blocking Cape Wind. That they happen to live on Cape Cod has "nothing to do with it".

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Well blow me down.

[scarletti]

yesssssssss! I'm so pleased to hear this news! This really makes me pleased to be a texan.

[springsm]

Oh gracious..­.don't get over excited. You still have our beloved bush family...