Tax credit extension boosts Texan wind development

摘要

Wind farm development activity is "robust" in Texas and the Southwest US, as utilities and wind developers alike seek to take advantage of an extended federal production tax credit, according to the executive director of The Wind Coalition. Jeff Clark said several utilities in the Southwest Power Pool and Electric Reliability Council of Texas regions have issued - and in some cases concluded -quick-turnaround solicitations for wind power aimed at wind projects on which construction could begin by end-2013 - a requirement for PTC qualification. Austin Energy, for example, concluded a wind RFP in June by entering into three Power Purchase Agreements for a total of 570 MW of wind power - from $23 to $33/MWh. Duke Energy Renewables will build a total of 400 MW of wind capacity in South Texas's Starr County, while E.On Climate & Renewables will build a 170 MW wind farm in Nueces County, Texas.