Texas Wind, Chinese Turbines

Maybe you read the reports from the renewable energy industry like I do, but just in case you missed it: China is officially staking its flag on the Texas wind market. Fortunately it can’t export the construction and installation of what will be one of the biggest wind power plants in Texas (and the U.S.), but China will be building all 240 wind turbines for this 36,000-acre project and shipping them here for installation.

This announcement is just the latest example of how jobs continue to pass Texas by since the legislature failed to pass the two signature renewable energy bills this past year.

It’s kind of like Detroit in the ’70s and ’80s: While the old, established industry was busy building bigger cars with bigger engines, Japan became the world leader in automobiles by providing more reliable cars at a lower cost with higher miles per gallon. Now Texas is at risk of becoming another Detroit as companies in the state continue to look for more expensive sources of fossil energy, while another “sleeping giant” positions itself to build the world a cleaner, cheaper alternative.

It’s a real shame too. This past session, state Senator Kirk Watson introduced the “Made in Texas” incentive for renewable energy, which found its way into almost every piece of renewable energy legislation. Both Senator Watson’s renewable energy goal bill (SB 541) and Chairman Fraser’s solar subsidy bill (SB 545) would have created the kind of marketplace needed to keep wind and solar jobs in the U.S., with an extra incentive to bring them to Texas.

These are the kinds of ideas we need to make a reality if we truly want to stem the tide of energy importing and ensure that Texas remains a strong energy exporter well into the 21st century.