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.
Wind farms, national park concessionaires, topics of concern
Concern over wind farm regulation and national park concessionaires took center stage during a recent discussion between county commissioners court and their Washington, D.C., lobbyists. Val Verde County Commissioners Court members heard an update on the lobbying efforts of Madison Government Affairs, the firm that represents county interests in the nation’s capital. Jack Hession and Paul J. Hirsch represented the company at the commissioners court meeting and spoke about some of the issues of local concern. Hirsch told the court . . . Complete story »
Liens help resolve wind farm disputes
It reads as a cautionary tale. Or someone with an agenda. In a December letter to a newspaper in Gainesville, Texas, Don Vogel wrote about a proposed wind farm in Texas that, if approved, would be developed by the same company that owns the Prairie Queen Wind Farm in northern Allen County. “Like waking from a bad dream … the decent folk of the farming community near Iola were shaken by news of legal action,” Vogel wrote. “A mechanics lien . . . Complete story »
Wind farm: Debate to abate
BEEVILLE – County leaders are looking at three options for the future taxing of the wind farm proposed in Bee County. For Joe Carter who spoke to commissioners during their meeting Dec. 20, only one was suitable. “I think that you need to not give a lot of consideration to any form of taxation other than the way everybody else is taxed,” he told commissioners during public comment. Commissioner Dennis DeWitt said that the court could offer no abatement, which . . . Complete story »
Interest in solar grows as federal tax credit for wind expires
Papalote Creek Wind Farm extends for miles between Taft and Odem. There, about 200 turbines stretch almost 300 feet into the sky and produce enough clean energy to power more than 100,000 homes. The turbines are among thousands that have been installed across the country in the past few decades, particularly in Texas – the nation’s largest wind power producer. More than 27 gigawatts of wind capacity are online in the state, which has provided more than $46 billion in . . . Complete story »
Company says survey shows residents favor wind farm
BEEVILLE – Officials with the wind farm proposed primarily near Pawnee say it will generate millions of dollars in tax revenue. Eric Barnett, with then Lincoln Clean Energy but now Orsted after the company’s purchase, said that the 250-megawatt wind farm is taking shape with 11,000 acres under lease. “We are focusing our efforts on continuing to lease land,” he told commissioners during their meeting Dec. 9. The company intends not only to ask the county for a tax abatement, . . . Complete story »
Wind, solar face future without subsidies
WASHINGTON – More than 25 years after Congress created tax credits to encourage the development of renewable energy, wind turbines and solar panels will soon have to fend for themselves as they never have before. Under the spending deal approved shortly before Congress took its holiday break, the investment tax credit, which reimburses 30 percent of the cost of new solar systems, will begin winding down next month, dropping to 10 percent for most companies by 2022. The energy production . . . Complete story »
Landowners on the hook
A mere five-hour drive to the northeast of Cooke County will put you in rural southeast Kansas near the town of Iola. Just as here in Cooke County, Allen County, Kansas is comprised of several small farming communities in a mostly rural setting. The similarities in the small town atmosphere of North Texas and South Kansas are remarkable yet predictable. Farm and ranch land is the dominant feature of both locales and EDP Renewables covets both areas for wind farms. . . . Complete story »
Wind farm company details project plans to Pawnee trustees
PAWNEE – While one county commissioner says he still doesn’t favor a tax abatement for a wind farm in north Bee County, he wants to ensure the Pawnee and Pettus school districts their have the ability to offer their own such agreement. On Nov. 13, representatives with Lincoln Clean Energy were in Pawnee speaking to members of that school board. “Eighty percent of the wind farm is in the Pawnee school district,” Eric Barnett, director of development with Lincoln, told . . . Complete story »
Commissioners OK letter to wind farm
After tabling the issue last week, the Matagorda County Commissioners Court approved a letter to Peyton Creek Farms regarding the county’s permitting process. “The letter appeared to be pretty straight forward to their questions,” said Matagorda County Commissioner Kent Pollard. According to the letter drafted to Paul Bowman with Peyton Creek Wind Farm, LLC, it appears that the wind farm was requesting Matagorda County Judge Nate McDonald to verify “that there are no county environmental or land use regulations, ordinances . . . Complete story »
The latest from game wardens across the state
Here’s one for the books. Game wardens traditionally look like outdoor type folks in their traditional tan uniforms, harking back to the days portrayed by John Wayne. But game wardens are as much in the modern times as any other law enforcement officer, as proved by the men in Scurry County who had been investigating the cutting of a certain landowner’s fences for several years. Finally, using undercover cameras along one of the country roads, the lawmen connected the fence . . . Complete story »
