Austin, Texas - 11/7/07

Based on statistics released today by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), Texas has shattered the national record for wind installations by one state in a single year. The 1,185 megawatts (MW) of wind projects completed in Texas through the first 9 months of 2007 surpass the previous full-year state mark of 912 MW, set by Texas in 2001.

This achievement establishes Texas as the first state to achieve the milestone of one Gigawatt of wind installations in a single year. With more than 500 MW of additional wind power projects nearing completion by year's end, wind turbines in Texas will soon be producing enough electricity to power 1 million Texas homes.

"The international wind industry is responding to the welcome mat set out by Texas, particularly the State's commitment to build transmission lines to support new development in the best wind areas" says Mike Sloan, Managing Consultant of The Wind Coalition, a regional wind advocacy group operating in the south central United States. (!--[endif]--) The proactive Competitive Renewable Energy Zone (CREZ) transmission development process is expected to trigger substantial additional installations of wind power in Texas, pending a final decision in 2008 from the Public Utility Commission of Texas in Docket No. 33672.

Adds Sloan, “ Texas' competitive energy markets and business-friendly environment have enabled the wind industry to deliver results that help ratepayers and help the environment more quickly in Texas than in any other state."

In addition to providing clean, affordable energy, wind plays a helpful role in reducing the number of other power plants needed in the future. Says Sloan, "Official data for Texas shows there was not even a single hour during 2006 that had zero wind power production. Texas will certainly need a variety of energy sources to power its future, but wind power can be counted upon to play a significant role for some time to come."

Spurred by successful renewable energy development policies, Texas surpassed California during 2006 to become the nation’s leader in wind capacity. The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) reports that Texas currently has almost thirty-percent of the total wind energy capacity installed in the nation. According to AWEA, 3,953 MW of the nation’s 13,885 MW is operating in Texas.

AWEA’s press release can be found at: www.awea.org/newsroom/releases/AWEA_Quarterly_Market_Report_110707.html

The Wind Coalition’s press release can be found at: http://www.windcoalition.org/news_page.php?tableName=News&id=48

The Wind Coalition is a non-profit association formed to promote an economic and regulatory climate that encourages the development of the vast wind energy resources of the South Central United States. Its membership includes major wind developers, equipment vendors and public interest groups.