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 farm county public meeting scheduled
The Young County Commissioners Court will host a public hearing Aug. 9 at 10 a.m. for public comment regarding a proposed wind farm in Young County. The court will listen to public comments before making consideration on a new reinvestment zone as well as tax abatement and road use agreements. The reinvestment zone, titled Reinvestment Zone No. 3, is expected to cover the previous zone as well as newer properties that have since made agreements with Young Wind LLC. Development . . . Complete story »
County to vote on tax abatements
Jack County Commissioners will hold a meeting at 10 a.m. Monday, July 12 to consider the application of Lasso Wind, LLC, for the designation of a certain area of the county as a reinvestment zone for tax abatement. Ever since the company submitted its application, commissioners have been met by a vocal opposition group. North Texas Heritage Association (NTHA) members have been urging Jack County officials to not allow a wind farm to set up shop in the north part . . . Complete story »
Wind turbine catches fires in Willacy County
A wind turbine caught fire in Lyford on Monday. The Willacy County Sheriff’s Office said the turbine is located on the area of Simo road and Zinnia. Officials say local fire departments are on scene. Authorities are asking the public to avoid the area. No other information has been released. Check back for updates. Complete story »
Fire departments respond to wind turbine fire in Lyford
Fire departments responded to a wind turbine fire in Lyford Monday afternoon, according to the Willacy County Sheriff’s Office. The wind turbine is located in the area of Simo Road and Zinnia Road, the sheriff’s office said. The public is asked to avoid the area as fire departments respond to the fire. Complete story »
The California and Texas Greenouts
Electric grid operators in Texas and California are again urging residents to conserve power amid a sweltering heat wave to avoid blackouts. Keeping your thermostat at 78 degrees during the summer may be the green new normal. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (Ercot) warned this week that a large number of unexpected power plant outages combined with surging demand is straining the grid. Meantime, California’s Independent System Operator forecast that electricity demand might exceed supply several days this week. . . . Complete story »
Wind farm district application takes next step to comptroller
The Chapter 313 application by Young Wind, LLC, from Apex Clean Energy was approved by Newcastle ISD and Graham ISD this week. The application is related to a 600 MW wind energy farm being considered for the southwest portion of Young County which encompasses 30,128.22 acres between the two school districts. The NISD and GISD Board of Trustees Tuesday and Wednesday approved the application from Young Wind, LLC, for an appraised value limitation on qualified property and authorized the superintendent to . . . Complete story »
Prairie-chicken listing expected to put wind farms in crosshairs
A Biden administration proposal to list the lesser prairie-chicken as endangered in the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico could stymie oil and gas development in the largest U.S. petroleum basin, environmental attorneys say. And one warns it could devastate another energy source—wind power. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the proposal to grant Endangered Species Act protection for the imperiled lesser prairie-chicken by listing it as endangered in the Permian Basin and threatened in a region centered . . . Complete story »
Texas court upholds multimillion-dollar award for truck driver in rollover
A driver who was awarded more than $7 million after rolling over his truck on the site of a wind farm installation has had that verdict upheld by the state’s appellate court. James Shelton was a driver at the Bobcat Bluff Windmill Farm in Archer County, Texas, northwest of Dallas. The general contractor on the site, M.A. Mortenson Co., was hit with the bulk of paying the the award to Shelton and launched its appeal of the lower court ruling. . . . Complete story »
Wrongful death lawsuit filed after man dies from fall at a wind turbine
SAN ANGELO, TX – Currently working its way through the Tom Green County legal system is a lawsuit filed by Lacey Johnson whose husband, Aaron Johnson, died after falling at a wind turbine in southern Tom Green County. Lacey Johnson is suing Sentry Electrical Group for the wrongful death of her husband. See the original story here. Sentry Electrical Group was contracted to perform repair services to a Clearway owned wind turbine within Tom Green County and put Aaron Johnson . . . Complete story »
Texas stops Chinese billionaire from building wind farm
A Chinese company is evaluating its options now that Texas lawmakers have passed a bill to block it from building a wind farm in Val Verde County. The Blue Hills Wind Farm was planned for the Devil’s River area about two hundred miles northwest of San Antonio. Trouble shooter Jaie Avila investigates claims it poses a threat to national security and our power grid. The Morning Star Ranch belongs to Sun Guangxin, a former Chinese military official, who purchased 140-thousand . . . Complete story »
