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Texas makes wise move on energy front
We were not surprised to learn of Texas' bold plan to place a high-priced bet on wind power. Just looking across the West Texas.
by Midland Reporter-Telegram
We were not surprised to learn of Texas' bold plan to place a high-priced bet on wind power. Just looking across the West Texas landscape is enough to tell you Texas ultimately was going to invest heavily in wind power.
Still, the price tag on the investment is staggering at $4.9 billion. Experts are calling this move as the biggest investment in the clean and renewable energy in U.S. history. The plan calls for building the infrastructure for new transmission lines to carry wind-generated electricity from gusty West Texas to urban areas like Dallas.
So, the new plan would not directly build a slew of new turbines, but would add transmission lines capable of moving about 18,000 megawatts. That amount of wind power is said to be enough to power more than 4 million Texas homes.
Texas is already the national leader in wind power, generating about 5,000 megawatts. But wind-energy advocates say the lack of transmission lines has kept a lot of that power from being put to use and has hindered the building of more turbines.
There is some controversy over how the plan will be paid for, however. For the most part, Texas electric customers will bear the cost of construction over the next several years, paying about $3 or $4 more per month on their bills. This, of course, is expected to generate new wind power projects, create jobs, reduce pollution and eventually lower energy costs.
Opponents of the endeavor think the investors in wind power should pay more of the costs and shift the burden away from the consumer. There is certainly room for debate on this issue, but the fact Texas has decided to move forward in the renewable energy sector is of little surprise.
After all, Texas has long been a leader in the energy field and there is no reason that the Lone Star State shouldn't remain as the nation's top innovator and developer of new energy sources as we begin the slow move away from our reliance on oil and gas as the energy staple of the U.S.
Naturally, oil and gas will continue to play a vital energy role as we go forward, but it is wise to take steps to make sure that Texas remains as an energy giant. This should also send a message to all Midlanders in the energy field. Midland, too, should encourage and secure renewable energy assets to broaden our energy-based economy.
There should be no reason why Midland can't continue to be a leader in the energy field. After all, energy is what we know and do.
Still, the price tag on the investment is staggering at $4.9 billion. Experts are calling this move as the biggest investment in the clean and renewable energy in U.S. history. The plan calls for building the infrastructure for new transmission lines to carry wind-generated electricity from gusty West Texas to urban areas like Dallas.
So, the new plan would not directly build a slew of new turbines, but would add transmission lines capable of moving about 18,000 megawatts. That amount of wind power is said to be enough to power more than 4 million Texas homes.
Texas is already the national leader in wind power, generating about 5,000 megawatts. But wind-energy advocates say the lack of transmission lines has kept a lot of that power from being put to use and has hindered the building of more turbines.
There is some controversy over how the plan will be paid for, however. For the most part, Texas electric customers will bear the cost of construction over the next several years, paying about $3 or $4 more per month on their bills. This, of course, is expected to generate new wind power projects, create jobs, reduce pollution and eventually lower energy costs.
Opponents of the endeavor think the investors in wind power should pay more of the costs and shift the burden away from the consumer. There is certainly room for debate on this issue, but the fact Texas has decided to move forward in the renewable energy sector is of little surprise.
After all, Texas has long been a leader in the energy field and there is no reason that the Lone Star State shouldn't remain as the nation's top innovator and developer of new energy sources as we begin the slow move away from our reliance on oil and gas as the energy staple of the U.S.
Naturally, oil and gas will continue to play a vital energy role as we go forward, but it is wise to take steps to make sure that Texas remains as an energy giant. This should also send a message to all Midlanders in the energy field. Midland, too, should encourage and secure renewable energy assets to broaden our energy-based economy.
There should be no reason why Midland can't continue to be a leader in the energy field. After all, energy is what we know and do.
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Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of mywesttexas.com.
megan wrote on Jul 3, 2008 4:47 PM:
" i think that we skould be able to have and pop fire-works. we have not had them for a while and i think that it is time for us to have them now. it's one time for a year it's one day out of a whole year.whats one day going to hurt. come on let us have some fun!!! "
Amber wrote on Aug 21, 2008 10:43 AM:
" Exactly college presidents should know better!!! I am 25 years old and is doesn't matter what age you are alcohol consumes many of the people I know and there ages range from
25-32....Maybe the punishment for drinking and driving should be worse. When I was 18 I had no buisness drinking...this is just crazy!!! "
25-32....Maybe the punishment for drinking and driving should be worse. When I was 18 I had no buisness drinking...this is just crazy!!! "
bi-polar stu wrote on Feb 5, 2009 8:17 AM:
" "... it's now HIGH TIME that Michael Phelps grows up."
HAR HAR!! high time.....HAR HAR!! "
HAR HAR!! high time.....HAR HAR!! "
Kristin wrote on Feb 10, 2009 9:42 AM:
" Really, it's no one's business as to what he puts into his body. "
bi-polar stu wrote on Feb 12, 2009 8:24 AM:
" Got a life, thanks. And if Conneticut wants to name anything after the shrubs, let them. But they are not from here in Texas and I don't think we need to name anything after them. "
desertowl wrote on Feb 12, 2009 4:32 PM:
" Lincoln's birthday and this is the best topic for an editorial! Oh, well. "
drjkapp wrote on Feb 17, 2009 4:44 PM:
" Now someone suggests the courthouse be named after a mass murderer and a war criminal? Sounds a bit ironic to me! "
C.R. wrote on Mar 3, 2009 8:57 AM:
" this months water bills gives information as to who to call when you see water wasted.
example, water running down the curbs for blocks from sprinklers.
i have called the city 3 different times on one location that has water running from powell to nearly andrews highway on illinois. either midland is getting really rich from the fines they are imposing on this address or midland is not doing anything about the reports of the water being wasted.
if you don't see a change it makes you think the city is really not doing anything about the reports of wasted water.
was it just all talk and no action in his speech? "
example, water running down the curbs for blocks from sprinklers.
i have called the city 3 different times on one location that has water running from powell to nearly andrews highway on illinois. either midland is getting really rich from the fines they are imposing on this address or midland is not doing anything about the reports of the water being wasted.
if you don't see a change it makes you think the city is really not doing anything about the reports of wasted water.
was it just all talk and no action in his speech? "
J.K. wrote on Mar 3, 2009 9:35 AM:
" I do not want to see anything named after the shrub either.
That yankee shrub had no problem sending our boys and girls off to war.
He had no problem with the news showing happy reunions when a soldier returned to his family.
BUT THIS LITTLE SHRUB WOULD NOT ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO SEE THE BRAVE SOLDIERS THAT LAID THEIR LIVES DOWN FOR AMERICA AND FOR A COUNTRY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE GLOBE,.
We all owed those brave soldiers that one last honor of seeing them come home to Dover Airforce Base. We owed them the respect of quietly observing their returns in a casket. If it were only over the evening news.
But the little shrub refused them that last honor from the public.
I do not want to see anything named after a yankee shrub. "
That yankee shrub had no problem sending our boys and girls off to war.
He had no problem with the news showing happy reunions when a soldier returned to his family.
BUT THIS LITTLE SHRUB WOULD NOT ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO SEE THE BRAVE SOLDIERS THAT LAID THEIR LIVES DOWN FOR AMERICA AND FOR A COUNTRY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE GLOBE,.
We all owed those brave soldiers that one last honor of seeing them come home to Dover Airforce Base. We owed them the respect of quietly observing their returns in a casket. If it were only over the evening news.
But the little shrub refused them that last honor from the public.
I do not want to see anything named after a yankee shrub. "
Question wrote on Mar 12, 2009 1:02 AM:
" I think the comments are from older posts, and somehow got in with these. You can tell by the dates. "
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Lauren wrote on Jun 13, 2008 8:35 PM:
Watch this video. McCain's next VP. "