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The sharp U-turn in federal energy policy has been devastating for the US wind industry, but the solar industry is rushing to fill the gap. In the latest news, the supersized, 600-megawatt Hornet solar power plant in Texas is about to get a new 201-megawatt neighbor, situated adjacent to it in the up-and-coming renewable energy hotspot of Swisher County. Wait, what’s so special about Swisher County?
What’s So Special About Swisher County, Texas?
Swisher County’s renewable energy journey is beginning to stand out in a state famous for its wind and solar resources. Despite the red-state rhetoric circulating among many of its lawmakers, Texas has a firm grip on renewable energy leadership in the US. The state emerged as the #1 producer of wind power in the early 2000’s after the construction of a new transmission line that links the windy west to population centers in the east. More recently, Texas has been running neck-and-neck with California for the #1 slot in solar power.
All that activity has been a lifeline for Texas counties in search of new revenue, and that includes Swisher. In a state awash in income from oil and gas operations, Swisher has none. A few dozen inactive wells sit idle and that’s all, which helps explain why policymakers in the county are chasing after renewables.
