Texas tops in (US) wind energy production

[jpak]

http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5196130

(Dallas-AP) July 25, 2006 - Texas, long known as a top oil and natural gas producer, is now the nation's top producer of wind energy.

According to the American Wind Energy Association, Texas wind capacity stands at 2,370 megawatts, enough to power 600,000 average-sized homes a year.

That puts Texas slightly ahead of California, the nation's leader since 1981.

So far this year, Texas has added 46 percent of the total wind wattage brought online nationwide. Last year, wind energy generation grew 35 percent nationwide.

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[ananda]

1. Amazing. Yay Texas.

I didn't know -that-.

Sue, from deep in the heart of Texas swampland known as Houston

[Igel]

2. They really should control for size.

Honking big state, it should be among the top producers.

We're also deregulated, and a fair number of people in Houston get their juice from a green electricity provider. They "marketize" the demand, so it's clear that there really is a demand for wind and other green power sources per se, it's not just that they're a large power company that dabbles in green power for PR; they provide an outlet for the power. If it costs a bit more, the people make that decision when they sign up.

[Massacure]

3. What is the capacity factor of those 2,370 megawatts?