Replacing Oil

The Dallas oilman and multi-billionaire T. Boone Pickens could run for president on a ‘need for change’ platform. The old man that made his fortune has been telling anyone that’ll listen that oil must be replaced. Although he’s less concerned with the environmental impact of burning fossil fuels than America’s ability to compete in a global market, we fully agree with him.

Pickens is now one of America’s largest alternative energy investors. His Mesa Power LLP recently unveiled a $10 billion project many are calling a ‘gamble‘. The plan is to purchase 667 (why not 666?) wind turbines from GE for a planned wind farm capable of producing over 4,000 megawatts of electricity, making it the single largest wind farm in the world. If there’s one thing that will get Americans behind renewable energy, it’s the prospect of having ‘The World’s Largest’ wind farm.

Add 666 more to this and you’ll get an idea of what the Texas Panhandle is about to look like

While having a gigantic wind farm in Texas might endear the U.S. population to alternative energy solutions, the centralized approach just puts us in a similar situation as we have with current energy providers. Individuals will continue to be entirely dependent upon large energy providers e.g. Mesa Power.

If we had our way, we would install a few turbines atop every house in the region contributing to the collective grid in the region the mega-project intends to serve. Unfortunately for the consumer it’s doubtful that any energy executives are going to get excited about providing the means for Texans to provide their own power and sell their excess to the overall grid. The world’s largest wind farm is expected to cost around $10 billion, even Ted Turner isn’t that generous!