Gov. Perry Dedicates Desert Sky Wind Farm In Pecos County

IRAAN - Gov. Rick Perry today emphasized the state's commitment to providing national leadership in developing renewable sources of energy during a dedication ceremony for the Desert Sky Wind Farm in Pecos County.

"By harnessing the energy potential of wind, we can provide Texans a form of energy that is green, clean and easily renewable," Perry said. "Wind power provides Texans clean, affordable energy, which is good for consumers and good for the environment."

The Desert Sky Wind Farm, with 107 newly built 1.5-megawatt turbines, will provide enough electricity to serve 134,000 Texans. To generate the same amount of electricity with oil, 866,000 barrels would have to be burned. The energy generated at the West Texas wind farm will be purchased by San Antonio's City Public Service under a long-term agreement with American Electric Power, which owns the facility.

"No state is more committed to developing renewable sources of energy," Perry said. "By the end of 2003, we expect to be generating 1,771 megawatts of power across Texas with wind energy."

Perry noted that last year Texas added more wind power capacity than the entire nation had built in any prior year.

Perry was joined at today's dedication ceremony by U.S. Department of Energy Assistant Secretary David Garman, State Sen. Frank Madla (D-San Antonio), State Rep. Pete Gallego (D-Alpine), Rep. John Longoria (D-San Antonio), Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon (D-San Antonio) and Pecos County Judge Delmon Hodges.

The Desert Sky Wind Farm is located about 45 miles east of Fort Stockton and 12 miles northwest of Iraan in rural Pecos County.