Wind Farms for Texas

Texas officials announced plans Thursday for the nation's largest offshore wind farm, consisting of as many as 170 windmills out in the Gulf of Mexico. Houston-based Superior Renewable Energy will build and operate the project about 10 miles of Padre Island. It is expected to cost $1 billion to $2 billion and should be ready in five years. Its 400-foot turbines would generate a total of 500 megawatts of electricity, or enough energy for 125,000 homes. Some environmentalists said the spinning blades could kill countless rare birds that migrate through the area each year on their way to and from winter grounds in Mexico and Central America. Jerome Collins of the Sierra Club said his and other groups support wind energy and hoped to work with energy producers to prevent bird deaths and protect the scenic landscape.