China Goes To Texas: The Great Wind Farm Dispute

Chinese interests and private capital will build a huge wind farm in West Texas. China-based wind turbine firm A-Power Energy Generation Systems (NASDAQ:APWR) will lead the project. It will cost as much sa $1.5 billion and could supply energy to nearly 180,000.

Senator Charles Schumer of New York State does not like the Texas project, although he might like it more if the turbines were destined for up-state New York. Schumer believes that $450 million in federal stimulus funds could go into the project from the government’s stimulus package. That would help to create as many as 3,000 jobs at turbine plants in China according Reuters.

Schumer wants to have the best and worst of the stimulus programs. He wants job creation and improved alternative energy prospects for America so it can break its addiction to fossil fuels. That may mean a sacrifice which is that China, the growing threat to US global economic dominance, will get a few jobs.

Schumer is naive, or is grand standing. Supplies for alternative energy has to come from somewhere and not all of its will not come from US manufacturers. That is a simple reality which cannot be changed.

Douglas A. McIntyre