BY TRAVIS BURLESON/Reporter Staff Writer

West Texans are tired of waiting for the Public Utility Com-mission to place transmission lines necessary to supply energy for the state.

That was the theme during a meeting of the commission in Sweetwater Wednesday afternoon. The meeting was held after the West Texas Energy Consortium monthly luncheon.

David Hurlbut, a senior economist for the Texas Public Utility Commission, voiced the importance of Central and West Texas residents expressing their ideas and opinions to the appropriate state institutions.

The goal in Texas was to have enough wind turbines to produce 2,000 megawatts by 2009, which was surpassed earlier this year. The legislature recently raised the goal to 10,000 mega-watts by 2025.

One wind turbine tower produces 1.5 megawatts of energy per day, powering approximately 400 homes.

As the debate continued, it was clear area residents knew the statistics and were interested in supplying renewable power across Texas.

The legislature only appropriates so much resources for a given region.

“That's where we are right now, trying to find the best areas that are the most cost effective to place transmission systems for renewable energy,” Hurlbut said. “There's plenty of opportunity for the public to express what area it should be.”

Hurlbut stressed the importance of getting those suggestions and statements in writing to the commission.

“It takes much longer to build the transmission lines than a wind farm,” said Hurlbut.

Making the energy available is limited in part to a lack of transmission lines. When the TPUC decides where the most “cost-effective” areas are, the renewable energy can be moved to those in need. Many at the meeting felt the region is ready for a decision to be made.

As part of the consortium meeting, Bo Barr spoke about maintaining local business in the state.

“We have to take care of Texas first. We have the advantage in this location because we're al-ready right here, we just have to keep it here,” he said.

He commented that one of the problems from the time of production to setting up the turbine towers is transporting them to their destination.

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