Texas mulls power lines needed for more wind farms - Reuters

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Texas mulls power lines needed for more wind farms
Wed Jun 11, 2008 6:44pm EDT

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Wind-power supporters called on
Texas regulators at a hearing on Wednesday to "aim high"
and approve plans for nearly 25,000 megawatts of wind
generation while others urged caution before companies
invest billions to build new transmission.

Members of the Texas Public Utility Commission are
struggling to decide how much new transmission should
be built to take advantage of the state's abundant wind
resource. Major power lines are needed to transfer wind
generation from sparsely populated West Texas to Dallas,
Houston and San Antonio, where electric demand is highest.

Commissioners are weighing the benefits and costs of four
transmission-route scenarios proposed by the Texas
electric grid operator to accommodate from about 12,000
MW to as much as 25,000 MW over the next four years.

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However, the wind boom has already created congestion
on Texas' existing power grid, leading to spot-market
volatility and turmoil for small power retailers.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSN1120730220080611