The passage of a new Texas law prompted developers to install 712 megawatts of wind
power facilities in Texas in 2005, almost a third of the national total that year.
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On January 24, the American Wind Energy Association announced that 712 megawatts of wind power facilities were installed in Texas in 2005, about 30 percent of the nationwide total. In total, 1995 megawatts of wind power have been installed in Texas, enough clean electricity to power 548,000 homes in Texas.
This boom is possible thanks to a new Texas law adopted in 2005 that doubles Texas’ investment in clean, renewable energy. New wind power facilities are reducing our dependence on dirty energy sources, helping stabilize electric rates and creating new jobs.
“While the federal government pushes an energy policy that puts us on a collision course with more oil consumption, more drilling, and more pollution, Texas and other states are leading the way to a new energy future,” said Environment Texas Advocate Luke Metzger.
On August 1, 2005 Gov. Rick Perry signed the Environment Texas-backed SB 20 into law, doubling Texas’ commitment for the amount of wind power, solar power and other forms of clean, renewable energy in the state’s energy mix. Senate Bill 20 mandates the state to obtain 5,880 megawatts, or about five percent of the state’s electricity, from renewable energy by 2015. This is enough clean energy to power more than 1.6 million homes. The bill also requires the production of 500 megawatts from non-wind renewable energy sources such as solar and biomass.
Texans want more clean energy. According to a Feb. 2005 poll by the oil and gas industry, 80 percent of Texans support renewable energy and mandating its use. With the highest renewable energy potential in the nation, Texas is in a great position to meet this demand and could produce more than eight times our state’s current energy consumption from wind, solar and clean biomass.
Producing and exporting this energy will help protect the environment and make Texas an industry leader in this new technology.
The new law will reduce smog pollution by 29 tons per day, equivalent to taking 1.1 million cars off the road, and will also lead to a reduction of global warming, mercury and soot pollution from fossil fuel power plants.
Wind power is also providing economic development in Texas. SB 20 is expected to create 15,000 jobs and generate $5 billion of investments in Texas. Since the law went into effect, renewable energy developers have announced several major new projects near Sweetwater in west Texas, in Kenedy County and off the coast of Galveston. Renewable energy projects also contribute significant tax revenue for schools, hospitals and other community services.
SB 20 is an important step towards a new energy future for Texas, but more needs to be done. Environment Texas will continue to make the case to the Texas Legislature that additional investments need to be made in renewable energy. “Texas has demonstrated that wind energy works,” said Metzger. “But our state’s not just windy, we’ve also got some of the best solar energy potential in the country. We should win the title of ‘clean energy capital of the world’ with an aggressive investment in solar power.” |
