Wind Power News: Texas
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
We must ‘go honest’ to ‘go green’
The Joe Biden administration represents itself as following science with regard to energy policy, yet it presents a simplistic clean/dirty energy narrative with the obvious solution to get rid of fossil fuels and “go green.” Unfortunately, this narrative is naïve, expensive and misleading. And it will harm U.S. energy security, the economy, the environment and the impoverished. To be sure, producing and burning coal and oil have significant environmental impacts. But what goes unmentioned are the extensive benefits of affordable, . . . Complete story »
Wind farm abatements causing residents to ask questions
New industry and tax abatements go hand-in-hand these days, especially in booming San Patricio County. Tax abatements allow new industry to avoid paying taxes until a date set by the county, usually between five and 10 years. It helps new industry generate income before having to pay taxes. For wind farms, such as the new El Algodon Alto Wind Farm LLC, owned by RWE Renewables Americas LLC, commissioners have usually followed the same guidelines as bigger industries such as ExxonMobil-Sabic . . . Complete story »
Local fight to protect Devils River natural area leaps onto national election stage
The Devils River State Natural Area in southwestern Texas has been an election-year battleground in the national fights over conservation, energy efficiency, and water use. It also recently saw a firestorm over an issue that echoes presidential election-year rhetoric: potential Chinese threats to national security. The park is in a remote part of Val Verde County, about 60 miles from Del Rio. The area is an ecotourism hotspot because of its clear night skies, rare and endangered bird species and . . . Complete story »
Demolition crews knock down damaged wind turbine
A windmill turbine damaged by a fire earlier this year in Portland was knocked down Monday afternoon. A video of the demolition was shared on social media by San Patricio County Sheriff Oscar Rivera. “The 1st blast was unsuccessful but the 2nd took it down,” he said in the post. The windmill turbine caught fire on Feb. 23. Local officials said at the time that they had no choice but to let the fire burn itself out. No injuries were . . . Complete story »
Semi-trailer truck carrying wind turbine equipment flips on State HWY 44; One in hospital
A semi-tractor-trailer truck carrying wind turbine equipment rolled over on Texas State Highway 44 sending one to the hospital Saturday. Sgt. Nathan Brandley, a spokesman for the Texas Dept. of Public Safety, said the wreck occurred at approximately 8 a.m. Saturday near State Highway 359 and State Highway 44 eastbound outside of Alice city limits. The driver of the semi-tractor-trailer truck was rescued from the vehicle and Halo-flighted to a hospital in Corpus Christi. The driver had non-life threatening injuries, . . . Complete story »
Rep. Dan Crenshaw calls wind and solar energy ‘silly solutions’ to climate change
U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw on Thursday criticized the emphasis on developing wind and solar energy to combat climate change, saying the people advocating it are being disingenuous and not really looking to reduce emissions. The Houston Republican said instead of promoting ideas to really reduce emissions, advocates are more for a “religious adherence to solar and wind.” “Nuclear would be a far better energy resource than solar and wind if they cared about zero emissions,” Crenshaw said at a virtual . . . Complete story »
Big Spring man dies in fall from Tom Green County wind turbine
SAN ANGELO, TX – Deputies with the Tom Green County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday were dispatched to the Langford Wind Power Farm, located in the 11000 block of Allen Road near Christoval, TX. in reference to an accidental fall victim. The victim, identified as 39 year old Aaron Scott Johnson of Big Spring was pronounced deceased at the scene. The incident remains under investigation by the Tom Green County Sheriff’s Office at this time. Next of kin have been notified. . . . Complete story »
Attorney claims Webb CISD board members profited from contract
Rodriguez adds that after disclosing a conflict of interest with the Javelina Wind Energy project, the Marshalls voted to approve the contract. “The evidence obtained during my investigation revealed that the Marshalls sought payment of $10,000 in exchange for their vote on a school public works contract and are illegally receiving money from their votes on wind energy agreements and turbines located on their property in violation of Texas law,” Rodriguez said in a statement to LMT. Complete story »
Tax abatement agreement started earlier than expected for Hale Wind Farm
A tax abatement agreement for the wind farm near Petersburg began a year earlier than anticipated when the agreement was developed. Hale County is now set to receive a payment of $956,000 from Southwestern Public Service to catch up. County Attorney Jim Tirey said the tax abatement agreement was signed back in 2018 before the construction of the wind farm under Hale Petersburg Wind, LLC. SPS and ESI Energy, LLC purchased and closed on the Hale Wind Project in 2018 . . . Complete story »
Wind energy companies gaming the system at taxpayers’ expense
It seems that wind farms are fast becoming one of the true bumper crops for rural farmers and landowners in the Coastal Bend. Our consistent winds, wide open spaces and the pro-business attitude of our general population make our region an ideal location for the wind generating industry to build and expand. The wind energy business benefits greatly from state and federal tax incentives. In the state of Texas, virtually every wind farm has also negotiated lengthy property tax abatements . . . Complete story »
