What's New
On Dec. 3, Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson announced first offshore lease for wind energy in U.S. history. The project by Galveston-Offshore Wind, LLC would generate enough clean energy to power 40,000 homes and would provide royalties of $26.5 million for the state's Permanent School Fund.

Brief Summary
We all know that if we produce more of our energy from renewable sources like wind and solar power that we will have less air pollution and a cleaner environment. But more renewable energy will also improve rural economies, give us more energy independence, and provide a more stable energy supply. We’ve made some real progress in Texas, but more needs to be done, if we are going to have air that is healthy to breathe and if we want to stop relying on out of state energy suppliers and dwindling supplies of foreign oil.

Renewable energy, such as wind, solar and clean biomass, is being put to work to reduce pollution thanks to a landmark Texas law requiring that three percent of our state’s energy come from renewable sources. These projects have also had a profound impact on local economies across the state. According to a Public Citizen/SEED Coalition study, new wind facilities created 2,500 quality jobs and paid these employees $75 million in salary. In 2002 alone, farmers and landowners hosting wind turbines on their property received $2.5 million in royalty income and Texas school districts were paid more than $11.6 million in property taxes.

Texas has the highest renewable energy potential in the nation and could produce 10 times our state’s current energy consumption from wind, solar and clean biomass. Producing and exporting this energy would help protect the environment and make Texas an industry leader in this new technology. A reasonable next step of 10 percent electricity generation from renewables by 2015 would:

• Create more than 18,000 jobs in Texas;
• generate $30 million a year in lease payments to farmers, ranchers and rural landowners;
• provide more than $200 million annually in revenue for schools, hospitals and other county services; and
• reduce global warming pollution.

Read more on our fact sheet.

How You Can Help
Please contact your legislators and urge them to support a strong renewable energy standard.

In The News
Article on news8austin.com, Renewable energy bill goes to the governor 7/14/05
Article in the Houston Chronicle, House energy bill targets gas prices 4/22/05
Article in the Austin American-Statesman, House passes extensive energy bill 4/22/05
Article in the Amarillo Globe News, Farmers cashing in on new crop: renewable energy 4/6/05
Article in the Austin Chronicle, Naked City 3/26/04
Opinion editorial in the El Paso Times, Texas leaders focus on renewable energy 3/30/04
Viewpoint in the Dallas Morning News, Luke Metzger: Texas can look to heavens to solve some problems 3/13/04
Article in the Austin Chronicle, Naked City 1/16/04
Article by the LubbockOnline.com, Lower costs making renewable energy sources more attractive 7/6/03

Testimony
Testimony of Luke Metzger before the Texas Sunset Commission regarding reforms to the state Public Utility Commission 7/13/04

News Releases
Texas Legislature Boosts State's Renewable Energy Goal 7/14/05
New Analysis: Renewable Energy Plan in Legislature Can Lower Electric Bills and Increase Revenue to School Districts 2/28/05
Energy Planning Council Challenged to Lower Texans' Utility Bills By Developing Renewable Energy, Relying More On Energy Efficiency 6/15/04
TexPIRG Launches Campaign To Educate Public About Promise Of Clean Energy 1/9/04

Report
Micropower At The Crossroads: Public Health and the Future of Distributed Generation 1/2/03

Links
New Energy Future, a project of the state PIRGs
CoolTexasBuildings.net
Solar Austin
Public Citizen/SEED Coalition Clean Energy Fact Sheet (PDF)
Renewable Energy: The Infinite Power of Texas
Power Scorecard