Articles / Wind Power From an Oil State: Texas' Green Energy Progress

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Look out your window on a commercial flight across West Texas and you’ll enjoy plenty of clear views of the American landscape – farms, ranches, plains. You’ll also see another feature that is not uniquely Texan, but that is not necessarily seen elsewhere across the US: wind turbines.

Despite its history in oil, Texas has been paving the way for wind energy over the last decade. In fact, Texas’ output of wind energy is over twice that of the next highest producer, Iowa. Impressive as this is, however, energy from wind accounts for only about 3.5% of Texas’ overall generation.

Nonetheless, Texas stands head and shoulders above the rest of the country in wind energy production, accounting for more than 30% of all wind energy produced in the US. Energy has always been big business for Texas, from oil to superconductors, and in 1999, the Texas Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) mandated that the state create 2000 megawatts from renewable energy sources by 2009. In 2005, after the successful implementation of wind farms, that mandate was increased to nearly 6000 MW by 2015.

Texas has been able to achieve these figures because, not surprisingly, the state is a bit of an anomaly with huge tracts of land and, more importantly, an independent power grid. Whereas the rest of the US relies on two grids separated by the Rockies, Texas has maintained its own. This allows the Lone Star State not only to bypass many federal hurdles when making decisions about its production, but also to lead the country in green energy innovation.

The Pecan Street Project, an Austin-based clean energy initiative, is a perfect example of Texas’ eagerness to be in the vanguard of alternative energy production and innovation. The project’s goal is to build a smarter energy grid, one that can more readily and more efficiently use energy and also switch from one source to another. Being able to back up energy sources is particularly important when dealing with wind energy – when the wind doesn’t blow, energy must be routed from other sources of production.

Colin Rowan, a spokesman for the Pecan Street Project, sees Texas as having the “economic impact of a nation” when it comes to creating energy from alternative sources. and admits that the state is still “doing the right thing for itself” economically. Wind energy, like other sources, can mean big money.

Wind energy is also an attractive choice for states looking to decrease dependence on natural gas and coal: Turbines have a relatively small footprint, they can be built quickly, and the transmission technology is ever-improving. However, not everyone finds turbines attractive and many states encounter resistance from residents who view the windmills as out-and-out eyesores. The recent approval in Massachusetts of an off-shore wind farm in the Nantucket Sound – and the public outcry it elicited – is a perfect example of the challenges that other states face when trying to implement wind power, not to mention the fact the some states simply don’t have enough wind blowing.

“With so much land in west Texas, and strong landowner rights, the state is able to rely on landowners who view the windmills as something akin to oil wells,” says Rowan. That is, having one (or many) on your land makes economic sense. If the construction and maintenance of turbines on land that is hardly used by its owners is subsidized, the dollars and common sense outweigh the aesthetics almost every time.

Texas is not trying to delude anyone either. Oil is still king and if wind energy wasn’t profitable, it wouldn’t have a future in the state. However, as it did with semiconductors in the 1970s, Texas wants to be on the cutting edge of energy. As more and more countries look to decrease carbon emissions and reliance on foreign oil, they need new technology. Texas hopes to be there when the world starts looking for alternative energy providers who are informed and field-tested.

On top of the future economic ramifications, researching energy, erecting and maintaining turbines and installing transmission lines all create jobs in Texas. In an economic climate that is as fickle as the wind, that matters. It will also hopefully catch the attention of the rest of the country who can appreciate the multitude of benefits that come with wind projects.

The American Wind Energy Association, in Washington, DC, keeps tabs on all that is happening in the world of wind. Susan Sloan, the Director of State Relations at AWEA, agrees that the rest of the country “can learn a lot from what’s going on in Texas.” While other states won’t find it as easy to cut through red tape as Texas has, Sloan claims that “good policy, good wind resources, and high demand are making people see wind as a good investment.” However, Sloan also sees a lot of challenges with smart grids and green energy outside of Texas. State, regional and federal policies all collectively set the stage for where wind turbines are built and how transmission lines are paid for.

There’s no one solution, and until there are solidified federal policies in place, Texas is going to continue to be a beacon of light – powered at least in part by wind energy.