Texas is currently producing more wind power than any other state in the United States, and it is now looking at increasing its solar power output as well. There are dozens of bills moving through the Texas legislature right now that will improve the incentives for solar power in the state. This is making Texas into a force with renewable energy and it is removing the stigma that the state has had as being ‘redneck’ and ‘oil-driven’. In fact, there are 69 alternative energy bills going through the legislature right now. All of them are for alternative energy and 50 of them are for solar energy.
Austin, Texas has put in plans for the largest solar power installation in the entire country, which is odd given how Texas previously looked at renewable energy. Two years ago, Texas politicians considered global warming to be a bad word, and the entire concept was ignored as a whole, but that has all changed and we have the economic recession to thank for it.
To get the United States out of recession, the government is pouring trillions into the economy with the stimulus bills. A large part of the stimulus bills concern renewable energy and that means there is big money in renewable energy for the states who want to build it. Add in the ample sunshine and wind of Texas, and there is the opportunity for the state to cash in big with renewable energy.
While the motives may be motivated more by money than by a desire to save the environment, the end result is the same. More renewable energy being used, less fossil fuels being used and the environment getting a helping hand. Who knows, this deep recession may be what changes things for the environment and could be seen as an environmental watershed moment for years to come in the future.
Glad to hear that Texas is doing something that helps the environment regardless of the potential financial gain. Part of me says that it’s simply happening because there’s money to be had from the federal government that a little somebody that was recently a resident of D.C. has an inside info on getting. I don’t think any one state should get a monopoly on the money that’s available.
I’m not an expert but maybe if Texas is doing so well on their own they don’t really need the money & it should be used for states with less resources?
Julia
Texas has tremendous natural energy resouces that are being underutilized despite the fact that we have more than twice the wind power production than any other state. We have been leaders in this field in the past and we should continue to be in the future especially in solar power.