Texas Approves Mammoth $4.9 Billion Wind Power Investment

Jon Popham July 18, 2008 | 4:29 pm EST

The State of Texas has just approved a plan for enormous $4.9 Billion investment in wind power, the largest in U.S. history. Utility officials in the Lone Star State gave preliminary approval to the plan which will build new transmission lines for carrying electricity from the turbines of windy west Texas to power urban areas like the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

The plan, which was approved by a 2-1 vote by the Texas Public Utility Commission, will provide the vital transmission capability for up 18,000 Megawatts, enough to power more than 4 million homes. Texas currently pays some of the highest electricity rates in the country, which the new plan will help to bring down by putting more power online in the congested system.

You can takepart in pushing clean renewable wind power as an energy alternative for the future by learning more about the resource from the American Wind Energy Association.

AP: Texas approves major new wind power project

National Journal Online: Q&A: T. Boone Pickens

Dallasnews.com: Texas PUC OKs $4.93B in wind power transmission lines