Texas - Wind & efficiency

Mining energy from deep, hot rocks is a relatively new technology, but people have been using windmills for centuries. And the wind blows everywhere. Here's where the United States is very lucky. Let's take a trip up the nation's wind corridor, from Texas in the south, to the Canadian border. Bright purple indicates the strongest winds. All along this nearly 2,000 miles, there's the potential to turn a free, non-CO2 emitting resource into electricity. But that takes choices and actions by individuals and governments. Here's what's been happening in West Texas. It's a land of ranches and farms and, of course, oil rigs and pump jacks. But in the early '90s, this was one of the most financially depressed areas in the state. Communities, like Nolan-Divide, fell on hard times. Schools closed. People moved away. But since 1999, the new structures towering above the flat fields aren't oil derricks, but wind turbines. The largest number-- more than 1600-- is in Nolan County. Greg Wortham is mayor of Sweetwater, the county seat. (Greg Wortham) It wasn't a philosophical or political decision, it was ranchers and farmers and truck drivers and welders, and railroads, you know, and wind workers. (Richard Alley) Steve Oatman's family has been ranching the "Double Heart" for three generations. Steve may have doubts about the causes of climate change, but not about wind energy. But it's been a blessing. It helps pay taxes, it helps pay the feed bill. Roscoe, 30 mix-- (Greg Wortham) We talk about this being green energy because it pays money. The ranchers and the farmers call it mailbox money. They have to get up, sweat and work hard all day long. Things are pretty stressful. And if you can just walk to the mailbox and pick up some money because you've got turbines above the ground, you know, that makes life a lot easier. (Richard Alley) Each windmill can generate between 5 and 15 thousand dollars per year, so a ranch with an average of 10 to 20 turbines can provide financial stability for people who have always lived with uncertainty. You know, I don't just believe in it because I-I make a living from it. It's something that's gonna have to happen for the country. (Richard Alley) So now local schools have growing enrollments and funds to pay for programs. (Greg Wortham) We had about 500 million dollars in tax base in the whole county in 2000, and by the late part of that decade, in less than ten years, it went up to 2.5 billion dollars in tax value. (Richard Alley) By the end of 2009, the capacity of wind turbines in West Texas totaled close to 10,000 megawatts. If Texas were a country, it would rank sixth in the world in wind power. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that wind could supply 20% of America's electricity by 2030. New offshore wind farms would generate more than 43,000 new jobs. That translates into a 200 billion dollar boost to the U.S. economy. Worldwide, wind could provide almost 80 times current human usage. No form of energy is totally free of environmental concerns or hefty start-up costs. Some early wind farms gave little consideration to birds and other flying critters, like migrating bats. But recent reports by "Greenpeace" and the "Audubon Society" have found that properly sited and operated turbines can minimize problems. Mayor Wortham, for one, welcomes wind turbines into his backyard. We like them. Some people don't. But we're more than happy to export our energy to those states who want to buy green but don't want to see green. In the long run, I hope we have wind turbines everywhere they can produce energy. We need 'em. That's what America's gonna have to do. That's the next stepping-stone to save ourselves. (Richard Alley) The state of Texas has invested five billion dollars to connect West Texas wind to big cities like Dallas and Fort Worth. Farther south is Houston, one of the most energy-hungry cities in the country. Its port is America's largest by foreign tonnage. And its refineries and chemical plants supply a good portion of the nation. But already, perhaps surprisingly, Houston is the largest municipal purchaser of renewable energy in the nation. Thirty percent of the power city government uses comes from wind, with a target of 50%. And its Mayor wants to cut energy costs and increase energy efficiency. (Mayor Parker) I want to go from the oil and gas capital of the world to the green and renewable energy capital of the world. (Richard Alley) Supported by Federal stimulus dollars, the local utility is ahead of schedule to install smart meters. These will help consumers economize on energy use. The city has already installed 2,500 LED traffic lights, using 85% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs. That translates into savings of $3.6 million per year. City Hall thinks it can also improve air quality by changing the kinds of cars Houstonians drive. If we're gonna be a car city, that's great, but those vehicles are going to be non-polluting electric vehicles. (Richard Alley) The city already operates a fleet of plug-in hybrids. Now it's encouraging the development of an infrastructure to make driving electric-vehicles easy and practical. And in Houston's hot and humid environment, it helps to have an increasing number of energy efficient, LEED-certified buildings. We're going to do it because it's the smart thing, because it makes business sense, and it's the right thing. (Richard Alley) Some estimates are that the U.S. could save as much as 23% of projected demand from a more efficient use of energy. (Mayor Parker) Well, if you're going to tackle energy efficiency, you might as well do it in a place that is a profligate user of energy. And when you make a difference there, you can make a difference that's significant. (Richard Alley) Globally, efficiency could cut the demand for energy by one third by 2030. Bottom line, there are many ways forward, and we can hit that renewable energy target. And if next generation nuclear is also included, one plan has the possible 2030 energy mix transformed from one relying on fossil fuels, to one that looks like this. With renewables, sun, wind, geothermal, biomass and hydropower, totaling 61%, fossil fuels down to 13% and existing and new nuclear making up the balance. Another plan meets world energy needs with only wind, water and solar. And, in fact, there are many feasible paths to a sustainable energy future. Today's technologies can get us started... and a commitment to research and innovation will bring even more possibilities. We've traveled the world to see some of the sources the planet offers to meet our growing need for clean energy. There's too many good options to cover all of them here, and besides, each nation, each state, each person must make their own choices as to what works best for them. But the central idea is clear. If we approach Earth as if we have an Operators' Manual that tells us how to keep the planet humming along at peak performance, we can do this. We can avoid climate catastrophes, improve energy security, and make millions of good jobs. For "Earth: The Operators' Manual," I'm Richard Alley.