Green power lines hogtie poorest Texans

“Green” power is smacking Texans with higher utility bills, but Democratic lawmakers in Austin, aided by wayward Republicans, don’t care. They’re stalling legislation that would reel in wind-energy costs.

The price of putting up power lines to connect wind farms in West Texas to customers in the central and eastern parts of the state has blown away initial estimates. The $4.9 billion venture has hit $6.8 billion, and counting.

The Senate passed SB 931 to curb the program and relieve ratepayers, but Democrats determined to push more wind power have blocked the measure in the House. The bill, authored by state Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Abilene, is on deathwatch with barely more than a week remaining in the legislative session.

Texans will pay an average of $300 more per year on their electric bills to fund the power-line project. Continued expansion would increase costs.

State Sen. Eddie Lucio of Brownsville was the lone Democrat to vote for Fraser’s bill.

“Texas ratepayers have paid an enormous sum to expand the transmission system to support the (state’s green energy) mandate,” says Lisa Linowes, executive director of WindAction.org, a research group critical of the costs and benefits of such ventures.

“It’s easy to get the projects approved and there is essentially no environmental oversight, so why not?” she noted.

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