Wind Energy Is Replacing a History of Oil in One Texas Town

What could be more Texan than an oil rig? How about a wind turbine?

Soon, Texas may be as famous for its whirling windmills as for its ubiquitous oil and gas rigs. Concern over the greenhouse gas emissions created by burning fossil fuels and a growing demand for green energy have the Lone Star State turning its attention to the power (and profits) of renewable wind energy.

In 2007, Texas added 1400 megawatts of wind power to its grid, making Texas the leading US state for wind electricity. These wind turbines alone supply enough energy to power 300,000 homes with pollution-free, sustainable power.

The town of Sweetwater, Texas is eager to swap its oil economy for one powered by wind. With a sparsely populated landscape and strong winds, Sweetwater is fertile land for harvesting wind energy. Investments in wind farms have pumped much-needed cash into the rural community, and Sweetwater's Chamber of Commerce couldn't be more encouraging, proclaiming Sweetwater a "Wind Energy Capital" on the Chamber website.

Sweetwater's foray into wind turbines isn't unique. The best area of the United States for harvesting wind energy is the windy swath of the country from northern Texas up through states like Montana and the Dakotas. Here, wind energy is clean, affordable, and possible in more places than you may think. "I like wind because it's renewable and it's clean and you know you are not going to be dealing with a production decline curve," said Texas oilman Boone Pickens.

This is just one example of how individuals, organizations, businesses and governments are helping to stop climate change. There are thousands more across the country and around the world – and it’s through these efforts that we’re going to be successful. We can’t afford not to succeed in this unprecedented challenge to our planet.

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