Texas, which produces more energy than any other U.S. state, may see a slowdown in expanding wind generation this year and in 2010 as low natural-gas prices make new plants less profitable, state utility regulator Barry Smitherman said.

Texas, which produces more energy than any other U.S. state, may see a slowdown in expanding wind generation this year and in 2010 as low natural-gas prices make new plants less profitable, state utility regulator Barry Smitherman said.

Wind-farm developers are also discouraged by the lack of sufficient transmission lines linking the state's windiest areas with customers, Smitherman, chairman of the Texas Public Utility Commission, said in a telephone interview Thursday. Texas plans to build lines able to handle an additional 18,456 megawatts of capacity by the end of 2013.

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