You’ve no doubt been hearing plenty about wind energy as of late. Unless you happen to live there though, what you might not know is that wind power is already being used to meet a sizeable portion of energy needs in some parts of the country. In Texas, there are even oil tycoons and energy industry players not normally associated with renewable energy who are beginning to get into wind power. To learn more about the wind boom going in Texas and throughout the nation, read on.

Texas oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens has begun to support the use of wind power in the Lone Star state and wind power projects are cropping up across the nation: there are wind farms starting to appear in the Midwest and in the Pacific northwest, General Electric has just secured a ten year, $1.5 billion contract for turbines and maintenance for a wind farm in Oregon. The reason for all this interest in wind? There’s a lot of money to be made.

At present, the US imports nearly 70% of its oil, something which should worry anyone who would prefer that the nation be less dependent on foreign energy suppliers. This along with an increasing awareness of the environmental benefits of wind energy are filling the sails (if you’ll forgive the pun) of the wind power movement. Along with wind, natural gas is receiving a greater degree of interest either as an alternative to wind or a complementary homegrown energy source.

In some areas of Texas, it’s possible to drive for nearly 150 miles and see turbines all over the place. While not everyone loves how wind turbines look, there are just as many who look at these structures and see a future where the US can be energy independent. In Nolan County, Texas there are 1,500 wind generators in operation (which is approximately $5 billion worth of renewable energy technology). In this county alone, more energy is generated per year using wind power than is produced in the entire state of California.

This isn’t the only area of Texas which is experiencing a boom in wind power. The Rolling Plains near Abilene has 2,000 turbines in use; the Permian Basin area close to Midland and Odessa is home to 3,000 turbines with a generation capacity of 6,000 megawatts. Turbines are being built all over the state, with as many as four per day going up in some parts of Texas.

Wind makes an excellent substitute for natural gas in electricity production, and is renewable, unlike fossil fuels. It also produces no pollution while generating that electricity, though the turbines themselves are still made by industrial processes. Oil barons and environmentalists alike are supporting these plans, in an attempt to reduce environmental damage from fossil fuel burning and decrease dependence on foreign oil. Add in solar energy, for when the wind’s not blowing, and the nation’s power requirements will be increased even more.

Is wind a viable alternative for all our energy needs? It depends on who you talk to. However, one thing is sure. Wind is booming all over the country, and producing a lot of energy. It’s definitely worth a look!

About the author: Jerry Dyess has been involved in the Texas Electricity market segment for the past 7 years. He has published many articles on Texas Electric rates.

categories: energy,texas,environment,wind,green