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China invests in West Texas wind farm

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By DIRK LAMMERS

The Associated Press

Published: October 30, 2009

China took a big leap into the U.S. renewable energy market Thursday, putting up $1.5 billion for a 36,000-acre wind farm in Texas with the power to light 180,000 homes.

The project is a joint venture with U.S. Renewable Energy Group, a private equity firm; Austin, Texas-based Cielo Wind Power LP; and Shenyang Power Group of China.

The announcement Thursday shows how much China's own wind industry has burgeoned and comes two days after U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu told lawmakers that the United States is falling behind China and others in alternative energy investment.

"With a long track record for building some of the world's biggest wind farms, the U.S. is a real ideal target for foreign alternative energy investment," said Jinxiang Lu, Shenyang Power Group's chairman and chief executive.

Executives would only say that the project in West Texas will be built in several counties.

The joint venture also plans to tap U.S. stimulus funding for alternative energy, said Cappy McGarr, managing partner of U.S. Renewable Energy.

The economic slowdown has led to the demise of some wind projects.

Over the summer, energy baron T. Boone Pickens said he was backing off plans to erect 687 giant wind turbines over four counties in the Texas Panhandle and is looking to sell them.

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