Would be largest in nation, topping farm in Oregon/Washington
Thursday, May 11, 2006; Posted: 9:09 p.m. EDT (01:09 GMT)
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas (AP) -- Texas officials announced plans Thursday for the nation's largest offshore wind farm, consisting of as many as 170 windmills in the Gulf of Mexico.
Houston-based Superior Renewable Energy will build and operate the project, which will be situated within about 10 miles of Padre Island. It is expected to cost $1 billion to $2 billion and should be ready in five years.
Its 400-foot turbines would generate a total of 500 megawatts of electricity, or enough energy for 125,000 homes.
"The wind rush is on," Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson said. "We want to be No. 1. We want to attract the businesses that build the turbines, that build the blades."
Some environmentalists said the spinning blades could kill countless rare birds that migrate through the area each year on their way to and from winter grounds in Mexico and Central America...
