I have seen estimates of 3 to 9 billion. The proponents bury the details of transmission capacity and reliability. Wind power has major problems for power generation on hot summer afternoons in Texas, precisely when the power is needed. Without subsidies and mandates, I doubt that this amount of wind power would be built. There will be a need for large amounts of gas turbines as backups. With the high price of natural gas, electric rates in Texas will substantially increase.
Or, if people could afford, purchase their own wind turbine and get their own power. Of course they’ll probably still need to be on the grid, especially on days where the air is still.
But, a lower electric bill is probably tempting to plenty of people.
(Don’t hold your breath waiting for Al Gore or John Edwards to install these on their land)
WOW ! Any Texans or Oklahomans have any interest in Nat Gas Professor???? /sarc
In the interest of disclosure, chk and ep holder here...
I tend to agree with you. T Boone Pickens is making a big splash, and burying the devilish details. His promos on TV are down-right convincing. The sad part is, he has the money to run a propaganda campaign, while the opposition flounders. Oh, and by the way, T Boone stands to make BILLIONS from his wind farms.
Which would also explain why billionaire TBone Pickens is running ads on conservative talk radio warning against our dependence on oil and advocating wind and solar power.........
Yo, Tbone, how much you got invested in this crap and how much do you expect to profit from the govt. in subsidies if your commercials are successful?
The man didn't become a billionaire because of stupidity..........
Wow, his commercial just aired on FOX again as I am typing.......
It already has. I pay $.16/KWH now in our “hearalded” de-regulated state.