Posted on 07/11/2008 4:21:24 PM PDT by lowbridge
Many angry landowners have contacted us about a plan that, contrary to good public policy, will negatively impact property rights of rural Texans from Roberts to Jack County.
The brand-new Roberts County Fresh Water Supply District No. 1, acting as an alter ego of businessman T. Boone Pickens and Mesa Power Pampa, LLC, has launched a private venture that may force landowners in 11 counties to submit to the power of eminent domain so they can pump water from the shrinking Ogallala Aquifer and sell wind-generated electricity.
This new governmental entity is composed of only five people, all employees or associates of Mr. Pickens. Mesa is Mr. Pickens' private company - he controls the various corporate shells identified with this project in filings with the Public Utility Commission.
Mr. Pickens' plan is to sell 200,000 acre feet of the Ogallala each year to the Metroplex, even though the plan has not been embraced by water policy planners as an economically viable solution to the Metroplex's future water needs. Such an extensive extraction of water from this area of the Ogallala Aquifer will have a negative effect on natural spring flows and on the Panhandle and West Texas communities that rely on this resource for their future existence.
Enabling the wind part of this project is a last-minute House amendment last year that allows a fresh water supply district to host transmission lines from wind energy projects on its rights-of-way or easements.
This amendment lets Mr. Pickens' personal fresh water supply district develop right-of-way to build the transmission lines for wind-generated energy he intends to sell. This component of the plan also taps the emotions of those who support development of wind energy resources in the Panhandle (as we do).
Many believe if they oppose Mr. Pickens' supply district's Ogallala-to-Metroplex water project, they will miss out on wind energy opportunities. That is not true.
The fact is, Mr. Pickens isn't the only one seeking to develop wind energy. He's just the only one who personally owns a governmental entity (a new freshwater supply district) to obtain the right-of-way for him.
There is an undeniable demand growing for renewable energy. Wind power is coming to Texas and it will be developed in the Panhandle and West Texas, regardless of whether Mr. Pickens' latest venture succeeds. To transport the much-needed renewable energy to the rest of the state and nation, companies will construct transmission lines. Mesa Power is proposing one transmission line, but it isn't the only proposal.
Within the next few weeks, the PUC will complete its Competitive Renewable Energy Zones (CREZs) proceeding, consistent with the public policy priority of efficient and orderly development of wind energy. A transmission route will be selected to carry wind energy to the state's energy grid. Since this process began in 2006, more than a hundred people have filed comments with the PUC, and 85 parties, Mesa among them, have participated in this process.
The Panhandle and West Texas have a long history of helping our neighbors. Our cotton, grain, beef and oil have clothed, fed and moved Texans for generations, and we're proud of that heritage. While we look forward to developing renewable energy to be purchased by our neighbors, we cannot give up an important future source of water for our region - nor are we required to do so. The Ogallala is not "surplus" water; it is a critical source of water for future generations who choose to settle and raise their families in the Panhandle and West Texas.
We are working with our colleagues in the Legislature to develop long term solutions for water and wind resources. We intend to address the issues raised by this poorly conceived project. Water is not like oil; it is like blood - life-sustaining.
bump
I was wondering when someone was going to expose Boone on this. He bought up sooo much water, and bragged on CSPAN that owning water will be very important in the future of energy.
Now we know what he’s up to.
He’s just the only one who personally owns a governmental entity “
I’ll dispute this statement - the trial laywers have owned the Dems in Congress for years now.....
Water should have no bearing on wind power unless he’s using it to make water wheels out of windmills, which in west Texas is a bad idea.
Stop whining and just let it get used up. That's what FReepers say time and time again about resources.
You’d think that an 80-year-old with more money than good sense would be above stealing the water of the next generations of West Texans, for whom it literally means survival, but that greedy codger worships Mammon.
LOL! Well, the T Boone shoe drops and it’s a doozy. Wonder what all the folks here who stood up for T Boone and said he knows what he’s doing with his windmill scam think now?
It is getting used up by the farmers. T Boone just plans on accelerating the process.
OK, I’ll ask the stupid question. What’s water got to do with wind power?
But if we just stick our fingers in our ears, say La-La-La-La, and call any critics “liberals” for daring to suggest that we have to face reality, then who cares about the mining of groundwater and permanent damage to the aquifer and ?
So then I guess you’re all for this T Boone scheme? Anyway, I’ve been hearing about the Oglalla aquifer drying up for at least 20 years. Guess it’s not it’s still got enough water to turn T’s head though.
Follow the money. Enough is never enough no matter what he may say. This is a strange old goat if you ask me. Arrogant, powerful but maybe not as smart as he thinks he is or has been.
Au contraire...!
Anyway, I’ve been hearing about the Oglalla aquifer drying up for at least 20 years
Yes, it's extraordinary how much damage has been done since then, and still, no action to protect it.
Liberals can't figure out that it's not a good idea to spend more than you make. Seems that we have faux "conservatives" (aka liberals) who don't like that "conserve" in there.
There was a time when disputes over water rights started range wars in West Texas. Mr. Pickens better watch is back.
Still think he is in league with George Soros. His advertising commentary is right out of Soros’ playbook. It’s all about making money off of suckers and right now the greenies are the suckers.
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