T. Boone Pickens scraps windfarm plan.
HOUSTON — Plans for the world's largest wind farm in the Texas Panhandle have been scrapped, energy baron T. Boone Pickens said Tuesday, and he's looking for a home for 687 giant wind turbines.
Pickens has already ordered the turbines, which can stand 400 feet tall — taller than most 30-story buildings.
"When I start receiving those turbines, I've got to ... like I said, my garage won't hold them," the legendary Texas oilman said. "They've got to go someplace."
Pickens' company Mesa Power ordered the turbines from General Electric Co. — a $2 billion investment — a little more than a year ago.
Pickens said he has leases on about 200,000 acres in Texas that were planned for the project, and he might place some of the turbines there, but he's also looking for smaller wind projects to participate in. He said he's looking at potential sites in the Midwest and Canada.
In Texas, the problem lies in getting power from the proposed site in the Panhandle to a distribution system, Pickens said in an interview with The Associated Press in New York. He'd hoped to build his own transmission lines but he said there were technical problems.
Wind power is a big part of the "Pickens Plan," which was announced a year ago Wednesday. Pickens has spent $60 million crisscrossing the country and buying advertising in an effort to reduce the nation's reliance on foreign oil.
"It doesn't mean that wind is dead," said Pickens, who runs the Dallas-based energy investment fund BP Capital. "It just means we got a little bit too quick off the blocks."
Pickens announced in 2007 plans to install the turbines in parts of four Texas Panhandle counties.
He had hoped to complete the four-phase project in 2014 and eventually have 4,000 megawatts of capacity, enough to power more than one million homes. The total cost was expected to approach $12 billion.
Renewable energy provides a small fraction of electricity used today, but the wind and solar sectors are the fastest growing in the U.S. In 2008, the U.S. became the world's leading provider of wind power.
Like most industries around the world, the recession has hurt wind turbine manufacturers and wind farm developers. Companies have shelved development plans and laid off workers.
Pickens has already ordered the turbines, which can stand 400 feet tall — taller than most 30-story buildings.
"When I start receiving those turbines, I've got to ... like I said, my garage won't hold them," the legendary Texas oilman said. "They've got to go someplace."
Pickens' company Mesa Power ordered the turbines from General Electric Co. — a $2 billion investment — a little more than a year ago.
Pickens said he has leases on about 200,000 acres in Texas that were planned for the project, and he might place some of the turbines there, but he's also looking for smaller wind projects to participate in. He said he's looking at potential sites in the Midwest and Canada.
In Texas, the problem lies in getting power from the proposed site in the Panhandle to a distribution system, Pickens said in an interview with The Associated Press in New York. He'd hoped to build his own transmission lines but he said there were technical problems.
Wind power is a big part of the "Pickens Plan," which was announced a year ago Wednesday. Pickens has spent $60 million crisscrossing the country and buying advertising in an effort to reduce the nation's reliance on foreign oil.
"It doesn't mean that wind is dead," said Pickens, who runs the Dallas-based energy investment fund BP Capital. "It just means we got a little bit too quick off the blocks."
Pickens announced in 2007 plans to install the turbines in parts of four Texas Panhandle counties.
He had hoped to complete the four-phase project in 2014 and eventually have 4,000 megawatts of capacity, enough to power more than one million homes. The total cost was expected to approach $12 billion.
Renewable energy provides a small fraction of electricity used today, but the wind and solar sectors are the fastest growing in the U.S. In 2008, the U.S. became the world's leading provider of wind power.
Like most industries around the world, the recession has hurt wind turbine manufacturers and wind farm developers. Companies have shelved development plans and laid off workers.
Views: 20
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by The_Baron on -
"He'd hoped to build his own transmission lines but he said there were technical problems."
In other words, he couldn't get the government or a utility to fund him.
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Permalink Reply by Pipeliner on
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Maybe Al Gore will take a windmill off Picken's hands to power his Tennessee mansion. If Al Gore put one on his private jet and put solar panels on the plane's wings, he would shrink his "Carbon Footprint". As it is he has a "Carbon Footprint" larger that Big Foot's.
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Permalink Reply by Checkmateking on
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He should, seeing that his daddy made all the family money in Occidental coal and zinc mining.
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Permalink Reply by sesport on
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Ah, you figure that you're pretty astute & on top of things? That you pay attention to the fine details and are quick to figure things out? That your "in the know" about every little thing going on? lol
careful - :0)
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Permalink Reply by Checkmateking on
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what are you talking about? typical liberal babble
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Permalink Reply by sesport on
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Check - Come on, these are simple, straight shootin' questions requiring only "yes or no" type answers.
1. Do you consider yourself aware of all things going on around you?
2. Do you see all the little things & make accurate rapid responses?
3. Do you think you're well informed about even minute events?
Take your time - sesport, liberating babble rabble :0)
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Permalink Reply by Harvey White on
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watts repid mean?
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Permalink Reply by Checkmateking on
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I still have no idea what your talking about, you haven't even asked me a legitimate question, are you saying daddy Gore didn't make all his money in coal and dangerous zinc mining? Are you further stating that Gore and his father have not always been shills for Occidental Petroleum interests?
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Permalink Reply by sesport on
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Check - I asked you to answer questions about yourself. This has nothing to do with Gore.
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Permalink Reply by Checkmateking on
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Yes I am very intelligent and informed.
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Permalink Reply by sesport on
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Check - By "intelligent" I'll take that to mean you're observant of details, dig around for information, engage your brain before your mouth (or in this case, your keyboard). How did you miss this yesterday when you posted this topic?
Pickens' Windfarm Plans on Hold
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Posted by sesport on July 8, 2009 at 9:05am
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Tried to tell you to be careful - :0) -
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