Wind Pollution

The vast, open spaces from the Big Bend to the Panhandle is about to sprout ALOT of wind farms over the next 2-3 years. The T. Boone Pickens farm out around Pampa/White Deer I believe will have 2,700 alone. That's pretty much as far as the eye can see. So much for there not being any trees on the caprock, eh?

The reason for the expected explosion is that the State Of Texas today gave preliminary approval for a massive transmission "corridor" project to carry all of the wind-generated electricity to major cities like DFW, Austin, San Antonio, etc. Read about it in more detail:

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20080717/D91VR9N80.html

I really really hate to see that because the vast, open skies are one of the reasons I love it out here. Within the next few years, I'm afraid it will be a rare photo of a storm without them in the shot. While not a nuisance now, with that many expected in the future, it's going to be common to have one blocking the view. I hope that I'll get used to it.

On the positive side, it will eventually mean lower electricity bills...at least that's what they say. In the meantime, we get to help with construction expenses by paying $3-5 extra on the bill each month. I've seen this scam before to sell the idea, and then later moan and cry that it's running over budget. I estimate that the actual payment will be $10-15 per month when all is said and done. But, "they" continue to assure everybody that we'll see lower bills "sometime down the road".

The problem is, I don't see anybody presenting any sort of solid estimates of just how much we'll really save. I say the big city folks foot the bill since the project really benefits them and nobody that lives out here.

I can't count the number of times our government pulls a fast one on us citizens in order to appease some wealthy special interests who line the pockets of those that govern us. Logically, we should see a big chunk of savings...particularly with the price of oil continuing to soar with no relief expected. We'll see.

From a stormchasing perspective, it would make for some cool video to see a strong tornado ripping into a wind farm. I've always said that would make for one of the best images of irony I could think of. :-) But, with the increased economic benefits, we should see some road improvements with the Bob's roads and dirt roads standing to benefit the most. That'll make interecpting storms a bit easier. I've already seen this benefit with the increased oil production efforts.

So, it is kinda depressing to know that the landscape is about to become cluttered or "polluted" with wind turbines. If it truly helps to significantly cut my electric bill and reduce our dependency on foreign oil by a million or so barrels per day, then I could probably stomach it. I'll keep the antacid handy though. ;-)

On a side note, I want to wish my buddy Jason Boggs a speedy recovery from a serious fall out of the bed of his pickup truck. He broke the big bone of his arm in two places at the wrist which isn't easy to do. His hand was fractured too and he suffered what sounds like a mild concussion.

He's doing great when I talked to him last night after they put him back together again....kinda like Humpty Dumpty. LOL!! Of course, the real pain an suffering will ensue later when all of his buddies out here conspire to make fun of his acrobatic feat. What are friends for? I'm still wondering if a part of his story is missing...something like, "hold my beer, watch this...." ;-) Seriously, get well soon.