Largest U.S. Wind Farm Dealt Potentially Fatal Blow In Texas

Texas dealt a potential death blow to what would be the largest-ever U.S. wind farm: American Electric Power Co.’s $4.5 billion Wind Catcher project.

The Texas Public Utility Commission on Thursday unanimously rejected the project as proposed, saying it doesn’t offer enough benefits for ratepayers as currently structured. American Electric said it was evaluating its options.

“Looks like curtains to me,” said Paul Patterson, an analyst at Glenrock Associates LLC. “Almost everyone was opposed to this. Barring any big concessions from AEP, it looks to me like it’s dead.”

The denial could spell the end of American Electric’s ambition to make one of the largest renewable energy purchases ever by a U.S. utility company. The rejection comes as utility owners including Xcel Energy Inc. and Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. have been seeking state approvals to charge customers for renewable energy projects that have become more competitive with electricity produced by fossil-fuels.

“We’re extremely disappointed in today’s Public Utility Commission of Texas decision rejecting our Wind Catcher proposal,” Melissa McHenry, an American Electric spokeswoman, said in an email.

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July 27, 2018 at 09:10AM

One thought on “Largest U.S. Wind Farm Dealt Potentially Fatal Blow In Texas”

It’s always important to consider the various factors and perspectives involved in major energy projects like this one. While it’s unfortunate that the Wind Catcher project faced rejection, it’s encouraging to see a robust discussion around the potential benefits and drawbacks. Finding the right balance between renewable energy sources and their impact on ratepayers is a complex challenge, and I hope that future endeavors in sustainable energy will lead to positive outcomes for both the environment and the community.

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switchrooms says:

8 Oct 2023 at 10:06 pm

It’s always important to consider the various factors and perspectives involved in major energy projects like this one. While it’s unfortunate that the Wind Catcher project faced rejection, it’s encouraging to see a robust discussion around the potential benefits and drawbacks. Finding the right balance between renewable energy sources and their impact on ratepayers is a complex challenge, and I hope that future endeavors in sustainable energy will lead to positive outcomes for both the environment and the community.

LikeLike