Texas, private partners to invest $10 billion in wind energy

Texas, private partners to invest $10 billion in wind energy
San Antonio Business Journal - 11:19 AM CDT Tuesday
Print this Article Email this Article Reprints RSS Feeds Most Viewed Most Emailed
The state of Texas will partner with private-sector parties to invest more than $10 billion in new wind energy infrastructure, Gov. Rick Perry said Monday evening in Dallas.

The wind energy initiative will diversify the state's energy production, clean up the air and help Texas surpass its renewable energy goals, Perry said during an appearance at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.


Under the partnership, private companies will make the capital investments in wind energy generation and the Public Utility Commission will direct the construction of additional transmission lines to deliver the power.

For every 1,000 megawatts generated by new wind sources, Texas will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 6 million tons over the next 20 years, according to the governor's office. The investment also will provide a boost to the economy, Perry said.

"With this $10 billion announcement, the economic ripple will be more like a tidal wave as these companies pour millions of dollars into wages and salaries for Texas workers," he said.

The Texas Energy Council, which was developed in 2003 and charged with developing a long-term energy plan for the state, issued a report in December 2004 stating that 10 percent of the state's power needs come from renewable sources.

The council recommended that the Public Utility Commission take steps to overcome transmission obstacles that limit the development of renewable energy sources.

"This is a monumental investment that will make our air cleaner and our people healthier," Perry said.

Private companies participating in the initiative include the following:

AES Wind Generation
Airtricity Inc.
Babcock & Brown LP.
Gamesa Energy Southwest
Horizon Wind Energy
John Deere Wind Energy
Orion Energy LLC
PPM Energy
Renewable Energy Systems (USA)
Shell WindEnergy Inc.
Superior Renewable Energy
D.H. Blattner
GE Energy LLC
Mortenson
Siemens
Trinity Structural Towers Inc.
Vestas-Americas Inc.