The state of Texas will partner with private-sector parties to invest more than US$10 billion in new wind energy infrastructure.
Under the partnership, private companies will make the capital investments in wind energy generation and the Public Utility Commission will direct the construction of additional transmission lines to deliver the power. The Texas Energy Council, which was developed in 2003 and charged with developing a long-term energy plan for the state, issued a report in December 2004 stating that 10 per cent of the state's power needs come from renewable sources. The council recommended that the Public Utility Commission take steps to overcome transmission obstacles that limit the development of renewable energy sources. Private companies participating in the initiative are: AES Wind Generation ,Airtricity Inc., Babcock & Brown L.P. ,Gamesa Energy Southwest ,Horizon Wind Energy, John Deere Wind Energy, Orion Energy LLC, PPM Energy, Renewable Energy Systems (USA), Shell WindEnergy Inc., Superior Renewable Energy, D.H. Blattner , GE Energy LLC, Mortenson , Siemens , Trinity Structural Towers Inc., Vestas-Americas Inc.
