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Texas Wind Energy South Texas takes steps By Carlos Alvarado |
 courtesy of Google Images |
The Kenedy Ranch legacy dates back more than 150 years in South Texas ranching, but now with the Peñascal Wind Project being developed, it will herd more than just cattle.
PPM Energy created a two-phase development plan, which will generate up to 400 megawatts at a cost of $440 million. That is enough electricity to annually supply some 110,000 South Texas Homes with power.
The wind turbines will create a clean source of electricity because its production does not produce pollution or greenhouse gasses, wind energy proponents say.
“We have constructed wind farms all in Texas and this is another big project,”said Mark Douglas co-owner of Reed Douglas Inc. a construction and pavement company. “Although we are dealing with larger foundations we should be done by November and production should soon follow.”
A nine member environmental panel composed of community members and ranchers, which includes the King Ranch, filed suit against demanding it be allowed to intervene in and possibly to stop construction of two wind farms in Kennedy County.
The group wants to intervene in an application for a 21-mile transmission line that would run through Kenedy Ranch.
Jack Hunt, president of the King Ranch, scoffs at comparisons between wind turbines and power lines. “They’re not 400 feet tall and moving,” he said.
He said the proposed wind farm is likely to have a major impact on the so-called “River of Birds,” that migratory pathway from Canada to Mexico that funnels scores of migrating bird species through the area.
“You’re erecting a 10-mile wall,” he said. “Nobody’s looking at how the birds will react to it.”
Members of the Coastal Habitat Alliance said the power lines would cross a major migratory pathway and migratory birds could be affected.
However Public Utility Commission has blocked attempts to present more wildlife concerns about proposed Gulf Coast wind farms.
“We have been here in September 2004 and traveled 55,000 miles on ranch land, put in 4,000 hours and used multi technology,” said Jim Sinclair co-owner Texas Environmental Studies and Analogies (TXESA). “Our studies suggest the risk will be relatively low.”
Other proposals for power wind turbines are being negotiated in Jim Hogg, Webb, and Zapata counties.