AN ECONOMIC GENERATOR

In West Texas, growth rates of population and personal income lag behind the rest of Texas and the United States. If the area is to remain economically viable, a new economy must emerge. As one of the most important economic assets in the entire region, Texas Tech University must be involved with developing this new economy. While not attempting to define the new economy’s composition, it is apparent that two resources, energy and water, must be readily available as foundation and cornerstone. Beyond sustaining our current economic activities, abundant and affordable energy and water are essential to achieve higher rates of economic growth and diversification of the West Texas economy. Redevelopment of these two natural resources will allow West Texas to gain a comparative, regional economic advantage that will encourage and attract new business and investment.

In many parts of the country, water is used to produce energy via hydroelectric generation; but in this region, energy is used to produce water. Texas Tech University is proposing that the first step in the economic redevelopment of the region is to develop and utilize the abundant wind resources of the Southern Plains to generate electric power for a variety of purposes – including pumping and desalinating the vast reserves of brackish water that lie beneath the Ogallala Aquifer. Simply redeveloping our wind and water resources will enhance the regional economy.

Currently the region is energy-constrained by a lack of transmission facilities. By constructing clusters of six to eight 1.5 megawatt wind turbines, the capability to generate 9-12 megawatts of electricity per cluster is provided.  By need siting the clusters, the necessity for high voltage transmission lines is obviated. Erection of the wind turbines will create temporary jobs but the structures themselves will represent huge, relatively permanent increases in the property tax base of small rural counties of about $9 million-$12 million of taxable assets for each cluster. Similar economic gains will accrue from the water production and desalination facilities necessary to redevelop the water resource.

Such activity is possible with existing technology but will require cooperation and interaction between federal and state government, the private sector and higher education.  While all three entities will be engaged in all facets of development and implementation, each will have a primary role. Federal and state government must initiate the process with start-up funding, appropriate policies and political support. The national labs will bring invaluable scientific and engineering resources that will continue to improve and lower the cost of both wind energy and water desalination technologies.