Sunday, April 20, 2008

World's Biggest Wind Farm in Texas

So, T. Boone Pickens has been planning on building the worlds biggest wind farm. His bet is renewables. How big? A $10 billion dollar bet. His company, Mesa Power, is planning on purchasing 2,700 turbines that are expected to generate 4,000 megawatts. The articles does not specify whether or not it is capacity or potential generation. Assuming the wind farm is able to generate 4,000 megawatts, this will be the equivalent of two nuclear power plants. Which could provide power for 1 million homes. Pickens has been an advocate of natural gas as transport fuels. One of his goals is to reduce natural gas demand on electricity generation. This then could be used as transport fuel without having to increasing supply. Pickens also is expecting to make money off of this project. It is not a form of charity, just another business deal. He is also expects at least a 25% return from this project. Being the world's biggest wind project, many companies are vying for his contracts. If this project proves successful, this could be a big step forward in the growth of the wind energy market. And hopefully, one day be able to compete competitively without any help from federal and state incentives.

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