Editor's Note: As this blogger has often pointed out, the manufacturing advantages of Emerging Economies such as China do not magically stop when "Green" energy projects are planned and built. Amercians have to decide whether or not they want clean alternative energy choices, or tiangular wars among the politcal parties and Emerging Economy manufacturers. Richard Wottrich)
New York Democratic Senator Charles Schumer (Blue) is asking the Obama administration to block millions of dollars in stimulus aid from going to a clean energy wind farm in Texas (Red), because all of the turbines would be made overseas.
Schumer sent a letter to Energy Secretary Steven Chu calling the plan "quite troubling": "The purpose of the Recovery Act was to jump start the economy to create and save jobs — American jobs. Yet the Texas wind farm project would create an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 clean energy manufacturing jobs in China."
The New York Times reports only about 30 permanent positions would be created in Texas along with 300 temporary jobs; a fact that the liberal Daily Kos Web site is not pleased about: "This is a problem... if we're watching our tax dollars go to finance companies that set up jobs for people overseas I guarantee — guarantee — we're going to see any current support for alternative energy dry up fast."
Wind Power in Texas
The State of Texas currently produces more wind power than any other state according to the American Wind Energy Association. As a potential provider of wind power energy Texas is ranked second overall. Current production statewide is 4356 + MW with projects now under construction expected to increase that by 25%.
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