A recent fossil fuel industry-funded report attacking wind energy uses faulty math and false claims, while ignoring the benefits wind energy has brought to Texas' economy and environment. (See: "Texas wind power hits record output -- and subsidy," Barnett Shale blog Nov. 14, online at bit.ly/TMrTqW.
The report overstates Texas wind's cost by a factor of almost 100. The true cost comes to less than 25 cents a month for the average household.What benefits do Texas residents get? Current levels of wind generation save Texas consumers around $1 billion each year (on average $10/month per household) by displacing fuel use at the most expensive, least efficient power plants. Last year, the wind industry employed more than 6,000 Texans, made around $115 million in property tax payments and paid local landowners $31 million in lease payments.Texas wind saves more than 6 billion gallons of water each year and reduces air pollution as much as taking 3 million cars off the road. Investing a quarter to earn $10 while also creating jobs and protecting the environment sounds smart to me.-- Michael Goggin, manager of transmission policy, American Wind Energy Association, Washington, D.CHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
