TXU Electric Contracts with FPL for Wind Power

, the largest electric utility in Texas, has entered into a “sell all, buy all” wind power contract with FPL Energy, LLC, a subsidiary of Florida Power and Light, a $6 billion national provider of electricity-related services (15% of FPL’s energy portfolio comes from wind power, with 85% coming from renewables or natural gas). FPL will build, own, and operate 242 166-foot tall (50.6 m) wind turbines in West Texas, generating annually 500 million kilowatt-hours—enough to power about 29,000 homes. At least part of TXU’s motivation for this project comes from a state legislature directive requiring a certain percentage of power generation in Texas to be from a renewable source. Through a trial TXU “green power” consumer program, residents of nearby Waco can direct-purchase wind power at a premium rate to support further development of renewable energy.