Wind turbines producing energy behind a cattle field Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, in Mart. Engie, a French company whose North American hub is based in Houston, operates 100 turbines on more than 30,000 acres for the Prairie Hill Wind Project.He also said farm animals and wildlife seem indifferent to the gleaming steel structures, each with a trio of 220-foot-long, 40,000-pound blades whipping along at a deceivingly fast speed at their tips of 183 mph.
Engie spent $300 million to get Prairie Hill Wind up and running, and the Limestone plant is expected to cost about the same. Buddy McKay, right, Construction Manager at Engie, explains the two-part wind turbine blades during a tour at a wind turbine construction site Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, in Limestone County. Engie, a French company whose North American hub is based in Houston, plans to operate 88 turbines on more than 38,000 acres for its Limestone Wind Project.
Twenty-seven of Texas’ 36 congressional districts have at least some renewable projects in operation or on the books; Republicans lead all but six of those districts, including the four biggest and eight of the 10 that are home to the lion’s share of wind and solar projects. Yet when Sielaff or his longtime customers see one of the turbines idle or being worked on, it makes them wonder if the machines are wearing out already. They also aren’t convinced that wind power can sustain itself without government subsidies.