Creating an Energy Legacy: Texas Isn’t Just About Oil

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Although Texas is famous for being an oil-producing state, more energy conscious times are changing peoples’ focus, and the emphasis is being placed on creating a system that utilizes renewable resources and which is ultimately, less harmful for the environment. With that in mind, it’s great to see Texas (with its gas-guzzling reputation) lead the charge in producing clean renewable energy. In fact, Texas is currently the national leader in the production of wind power.

In addition, the State of Texas was recently given preliminary approval for their $4.9 billion plan to build transmission lines to carry wind power across the state. Because most of Texas’ wind is produced in the west part of the state, creating a “highway” is necessary to reap the full potential of wind energy benefits.

Although creating more wind energy is of paramount importance, this new plan doesn’t call for the creation of any more turbines. Instead, new transmission lines will be build that will have the ability to move 18,000 megawatts of power. Harnessing and funneling the wind energy across the state means that less power will be wasted from non-use, and that enough energy will be created and utilized to power over four million homes. This means that the usage of wind power will become more widespread, creating less of a need for the use of non-renewable resources in areas that don’t have the meteorological capabilities to manufacture wind power.

The benefits of this plan are boundless. New jobs will be created, pollution will be reduced and energy costs will be lowered. Although citizens will end up paying an extra three to four dollars every month on their bills for the next few years, the energy cost savings over the long term will be much more substantial.

This wind highway could end up providing Texas with more wind energy than 14 states combined. The potential of that energy and the impact it would have on the environment is enormous, leaving Texas with an environmental legacy of which to be proud.