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 are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
Bee County commissioner warns property owners against wind turbines
BEE COUNTY, Texas – A Bee County commissioner is stressing the importance of landowners knowing what they are getting into when allowing wind turbines on their property. According to Precinct 2 County Commissioner Dennis Dewitt, he has had landowners in his area approached by companies to use their property and place turbines on it. Dewitt found that most companies want residents to sign a 40-year lease on their land. The property owner will get paid $80 for every acre the turbine . . . Complete story »
State mandates for renewables is driving new wind, solar power projects
State mandates that require power generators to produce an increasingly larger percentage of power from clean sources is driving development of renewable energy. Several states recently upped their goals, moves that will likely mean power production will continue to shift from fossil fuels to wind power, solar power and other forms of clean energy. California, for example, revised its renewable energy target to 100 percent carbon-free power electricity sales by 2045, up from 50 percent by 2030, according to the . . . Complete story »
A battle brews over whether to bring wind farm near Devil’s River
There are big plans to bring a new renewable energy source to the Devil’s River, which runs over 90 miles from Sutton County into the Rio Grande. But the project has its naysayers. Complete story »
Tax breaks for wind farms
I read with interest several readers’ letters to the editor about the cap on residential taxes and their effect. It might be interesting for them to know about the huge tax abatements under Chapter 312 that allow massive tax breaks to large industries. Interestingly, over half of the breaks are going to wind farms. This is billions of dollars in lost school revenue going to an industry that employs few people. I read with interest how “green” wind farms are, . . . Complete story »
Group tells Georgetown residents to demand release of energy contracts
GEORGETOWN – Representatives from a nonprofit that advocates ending renewable energy subsidies told more than 100 people at a Georgetown meeting Tuesday night to demand the City Council release the prices the city is paying for its wind and solar contracts. “Y’all are in a very tough situation,” said Bill Peacock, the vice president of research for the Texas Public Policy Foundation, to audience members at the Georgetown library. “The city is locked into wind and solar contracts through 2035 and . . . Complete story »
Georgetown will move to hire energy consultants within months
Georgetown officials hope to hire consultants within the next few months to help sell off excess energy not used by customers of the city’s utility that has led to millions of dollars in budget shortfalls over the past several years. “Hopefully by the time we get to April and May we’ll have more answers,” General Manager of Utilities Jim Briggs said Feb. 12. The city announced Feb. 8 it issued two requests for proposals: one seeking a consultant to oversee . . . Complete story »
Crop duster pilots concerned with wind farm safety issues
WESLACO – Local agricultural aircraft pilots are concerned wind farms and towers are causing trouble. Blayne Rowland owns a crop dusting business that conducts most work in Willacy County. He says windmills have brought fears that he or one of his pilots will fly into one. “It adds an element of danger we didn’t have before. We’ve got 450-foot windmills that we have to navigate around and make sure we don’t hit,” says Rowland. Rowland wants to know who he . . . Complete story »
Area becoming mecca for wind farms
RAYMONDVILLE – Ten years ago, flat swaths of farmland stretched across most of the area’s horizon. Today, towering wind turbines are transforming the landscape, jutting from farmers’ fields from northern Cameron into Willacy County. Some say it’s the wind that’s turning Willacy County into an international wind farm magnet. “ It’s a great place for wind farms,” Jeff Ferguson, Apex Clean Energy’s senior vice president for development, said yesterday. The latest developer to join the party might be Apex. The Charlottesville, . . . Complete story »
Georgetown seeks third-party review of energy management
The city of Georgetown is seeking proposals to manage the city’s energy portfolio and complete a comprehensive review of the city’s management practices in purchasing and managing energy, according to a news release issued Friday evening. The city lost $21.8 million on its wind and solar contracts from 2016 to 2018 due to the falling prices of oil and gas, according to figures provided by City Manager David Morgan. Georgetown is renegotiating its 20- to 25-year wind and solar contracts . . . Complete story »
Wind opponent speaks before foundation on tax breaks
A Wharton County woman taking a stand against super-sized windmill developments has spread her message beyond the local borders. Lacricia Ryan recently spoke with state leaders in Austin at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. “I (shared) my personal experience about the 313/312 abatements and the efforts we are leading with Wharton County Against WindFarms,” Ryan told the newspaper. Those 313 and 312 abatements are a form of tax relief available to county leaders and school district trustees. Ryan’s interest came . . . Complete story »
