Texas: A Leader In Renewable Energy?

In the Associated Press article, Tom Smith, State Director of consumer group Public Citizen, likened the current transmission line situation to a "two-lane dirt road." Comparatively, he said, the proposed plan would create a "renewable energy superhighway."

"We have all these wind plants up and operating. What we're asking for is the superhighway to get the energy to the cities." said Smith. "This will send signals to manufacturers all across the world Texas is ready to be a world-class player in renewable energy."

Smith also pointed out that Texans will front some of the cost; electricity bills could likely rise by $3 or $4 over the next few years as a result. Final approval will be needed later this year; this is also expected to pass. The transmission lines wouldn't be up and running for another three to five years.

The state has already been leading in producing wind energy mainly due to billionaire oilman T. Boone Pickens, who has already been planning the world's largest wind farm in West Texas, with over 2,700 turbines capable of powering 1.3 million homes. Pickens recently admitted, "I've been an oilman all my life, but this is one emergency we can't drill our way out of." And in a state that's more known for its oil fields, most folks never thought they'd see the day that Texas would become the leader in battling the country's addiction to oil.