CROSSWINDS Wind: ’ drought-tolerant crop After receiving AWEA’s U.S. Wind Champion Award, U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington explains how Texas wind energy is second to none.

Jim Reilly, SVP of Federal Legislative Affairs at AWEA, right, presents the U.S. Wind Champion Award to U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington, center. With them is Justin Ladner, federal policy coalitions manager at Southern Power, left. (Courtesy: Southern Power)

By Kenneth Carter Editor | Wind Systems

any factors came together to AWEA last had an awards program Maybe that had something to do with make in Texas five years ago. it.” a force to be reckoned with The “U.S. Wind Champion Award” Min the energy sector. is given to leaders who support adding WIND INVOLVEMENT Geography and natural resources are more affordable and reliable renewable Arrington’s involvement in wind important elements to be sure, but it energy to the grid and oppose any ef- energy started long before he was also took ingenuity and the forethought fort to inhibit the reasonable growth of elected to Congress. He first became to capitalize on that. wind energy. involved when he was vice chan- With the opening of Southern Arrington said he was both honored cellor for research and technology Power’s Bethel in Castro and surprised by the award. commercialization at Texas Tech County, Texas, earlier this year, the “As a new member (of Congress), University. American Wind Energy Association and coming from the largest wind-en- “We decided to make wind energy (AWEA) recently presented its U.S. ergy production district in the country, a strategic priority at the university, Wind Champion Award to U.S. Rep. it’s a great award to have,” he said. “I’m so we made tremendous investment Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) for helping certainly very vocal about my support in that,” Arrington said. “And we lead the way for the advancement of for wind as a source. were aggressive in pursuing state and renewable energy through wind in the The critical mass of Republicans on this federal grants to support the growth Lone Star State. issue is probably smaller than on the of that research center. And now it is Arrington is the first recipient of the Democrat side. But, when I’m an ad- Continued on page 56 115th Congress to receive the award. vocate for something, I’m pretty vocal. windsystemsmag.com 53

certainly a national leader in wind-en- only member from Texas on the Budget Arrington said that over the last year, ergy education, research, and technol- Committee, I fought for less cuts to the Texas farmers and ranchers have been ogy development.” discretionary programs like R&D and paid $60 million in lease payments so Being able to see the opportunity pre- focus the cuts that we have to do — the wind projects could use their land, and sented by nature and take advantage of spending reduction — on the mandato- he added Texas in on track to power 15 it was just the beginning. ry program side. Because I think we’ve million homes with wind-created elec- “The wind characteristics in the south cut so much that it’s going to hurt our tricity by 2030. plains of Texas and the panhandle are economy and our global competitive- very good,” Arrington said. “And of ness, and that’s where I think I’m doing SECRETARY OF ENERGY course we have a lot of land, and that the most.” “I would say we had a very vision- land is relatively inexpensive. All the Continual technological im- ary and aggressive leader in Gov. factors were aligned for us to be a leader, provement is a must in order to keep (Rick) Perry, who is now, obvious- and so we just pursued that.” wind energy economical, according ly, our secretary of energy, which, One of the organizations that sprang to Arrington. again, is a blessing for wind energy,” from that pursuit was the formation of “So that’s how I’m doing it, and pri- Arrington said. “During his confir- Group NIRE (National Institute for marily the other is I just talk about it mation hearing, he brought up Texas Renewable Energy). and promote it as an all-of-the-above Tech and renewable energy on more “It’s a public-private partnership,” Ar- strategy for our nation’s energy inde- than one occasion. That should tell rington said. “It has industry. It has fed- pendence and energy security,” he said. you something about his pride in eral/state (involvement), and it has uni- “I am a supporter of fossil energy. We what he did as governor to invest versity resources invested in it. And it’s also have one of the largest oil basins in and attract and grow the wind ener- become the national leader in wind-tur- the world in . And I think gy to second to no other state in the bine technology testing and certifica- we are very blessed as a country to have Union. So I think he’s going to be a tion. It’s really a research park that is fossil energy, and I support it. I think real key asset and leader to advance centered around renewable energy.” the two (wind and fossil energy) can wind energy as a viable renewable Part of Group NIRE’s function has co-exist. And in fact, many traditional energy source for our country.” been to help develop and commercialize oil-and-gas companies or traditional Arrington said Texas has added new technologies that helps determine fossil energy companies are now get- 25,000 jobs and more than $36 billion the best staging for wind farms based ting into renewables. And I think that in capital investment in recent years on wind flow and wind characteristics, is a good thing.” because of the state’s leadership in according to Arrington. It is also devel- wind energy. oping technology that reduced drag and EXCELLENT BUSINESS “It is no small thing that these com- improved the efficiency rate of the actu- CLIMATE panies like Bethel Wind Energy and al wind turbine. In addition to Texas’ natural resourc- their parent company, Southern Power, That research park draws in the in- es, another factor that has helped the are adding to the jobs, improving our dustry, where it pays to have turbines advancement of wind energy in the rural economy, and enhancing our com- put in the ground, tested, certified, and state is its business climate. munity with infrastructure because of then deployed to wind farms all over the “Texas is just a great place to do the tax base,” he said. “We’re very proud world, he said. business, and it’s a business friendly of them, and I was extremely proud to “That’s where I cut my teeth on state in terms of taxes and regula- be there on location when they gave me wind energy and saw the many bene- tions,” Arrington said. “But we also the award.” fits of wind as a renewable source, not have a lot of land. I don’t know of Southern Power announced the ac- just for west Texas, but for our nation,” any state that has more private land quisition of the 276-MW Bethel Wind Arrington said. and less expensive land as an asset Farm from in January 2017. for wind energy. A lot of that land Invenergy operates and maintains the CONGRESSIONAL INFLUENCE has been land that has been used for 120-turbine facility. Construction be- Now that he’s in Congress, Arrington farming and ranching. But the com- gan in January 2016, and the facility be- continues to use his Washington in- modity prices have been so low, and came operational in February 2017. fluence to advance wind as a part of the drought has been so bad in recent The Bethel Wind Farm is expected the nation’s overall energy strategy. years, that it is perfect for — as they to contribute more than $50 million in “I am a proponent of federal invest- call it — the new ‘drought tolerant estimated local tax revenues over the ment in R&D,” he said. “I think as the crop’: wind farms and wind turbines.” lifetime of the project. 56 NOVEMBER | 2017