Environmentalists Split Over "Next Spindletop"

While some environmentalists want renewable energy sources online yesterday, others want the state to hold off on developing the wind farm for fear it could kill birds. Tuesday an Austin-based coalition of wind developers called the Wind Coalition will meet with opponents to begin a dialogue with the wildlife community.

Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson tells the "Austin-American Statesman" the offshore Galveston wind project could be the "next Spindletop," referring to the famous oilfield gusher that kicked off the oil industry.

Bird activists point to a wind farm in Altamont, California that annually kills 13-hundred migratory birds but coalition members say that newer turbine blades turn slower and there are fewer perches for the millions of migratory birds. They are also considering other measures to help protect birds.

WEST is also eyeing developing wind farms near Freeport, Corpus Christi, and Brownsville. Each farm would produce 300 megawatts.

While some environmentalists want renewable energy sources online yesterday, others want the state to hold off on developing the wind farm for fear it could kill birds. Tuesday an Austin-based coalition of wind developers called the Wind Coalition will meet with opponents to begin a dialogue with the wildlife community.
 
Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson tells the "Austin-American Statesman" the offshore Galveston wind project could be the "next Spindletop," referring to the famous oilfield gusher that kicked off the oil industry.
 
Bird activists point to a wind farm in Altamont, California that annually kills 13-hundred migratory birds but coalition members say that newer turbine blades turn slower and there are fewer perches for the millions of migratory birds. They are also considering other measures to help protect birds.
 
WEST is also eyeing developing wind farms near Freeport, Corpus Christi, and Brownsville. Each farm would produce 300 megawatts.