Texas Wind Power Development May Spur Competitive Transmission Development

This article from the Dallas News reports that legislation requiring 10,000 MW of renewable energy resources in Texas by 2025 may have the effect of creating competition among transmission companies for the right to develop the transmission facilities to bring wind power from West Texas to densely populated North Texas. The Texas Public Utilites Commission is designating Competitive Renewable Energy Zones - regions in West Texas with enough wind power potential to warrant special transmission lines - and will then solicit competitive bids to build the lines from transmission companies that want to compete for the privilege; the PUC has not yet determined whether it will take bids from out-of-state transmission companies.