Two-thirds of wind energy growth to be in Texas

For many years, the center of the wind turbine industry has been in Denmark and Germany. But with so many wind farms sprouting up in West Texas, it's only logical for the turbine industry to relocate its hub to the Lone Star State, she said.

"The turbine industry should come home to Texas. We're talking about a very big market that would generate all sorts of other related companies."

Now that the state has pledged to build new transmission lines to carry wind-generated electricity from rural areas to urban consumers, developers are planning to build wind turbines in the more remote, windy areas of Texas. As a result, hundreds, possibly thousands of new jobs for the construction and maintenance of the power lines and turbines will be created, Silverstein said.

"The growing importance of wind power in Texas has created an inviting climate for so many wind-related projects and businesses. It's an exciting time because there is so much potential in this newfound industry."

There was another big development on the state's wind energy front this week with the Texas General Land Office announcing it will hold the nation's first competitive sale of leases for offshore wind-power facilities. The state is seeking bids for four offshore tracts with a combined 73,098 acres. Proceeds from the sales will replace lost revenue from shrinking supplies of oil and gas. The winning bids will be announced Oct. 2.