McCamey used to be an oil town, but, in the 1990s, it transformed as a wind energy town. In 2001, the Texas legislature declared McCamey to be the Wind Energy Capital of Texas.
Wikipedia: McCamey, Texas
McCamey is a city in Upton County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,805 at the 2000 census. The city has been declared by the Texas legislature as the “Wind Energy Capital of Texas” because of the many wind farms that been built in the area.
Texas Bob Travels
McCamey, Texas
population 1805
Wind Energy Capital of Texas
“McCamey goes as long as the West Texas wind blows”
McCamey, Texas has been called many things over the years. Some of the nicer ones are “Child of Black Gold”, “Home of the First Rattle Snake Derby”, and just recently the town slogan for the 75th anniversary was “75 and Still Alive”.
Now McCamey has a new title. By resolution of the Texas Legislator. On February 22, 2001 McCamey was declared the “Wind Energy Capital of Texas”
This new title comes to McCamey honestly because it has become a hot bed of this relatively new “green” power industry.
This started with The South Mesa project with over 200 wind turbines and they keep locating sites on the mesa’s surround McCamey to build more
On King Mountain two companies have teamed up to provide power to Austin Energy. However, because demand was so strong, the number of turbines on King Mountain Wind Ranch devoted to Austin Energy have more than tripled from the original 12 to the current 59 turbines. That means the power generated will rise from 20 megawatts to more than 75 megawatts - enough to supply more than 25,000 households
Renewable Energy Projects Around Texas
Southwest Mesa Wind Project
Owner: West Texas Energy Partners LP, a subsidiary of FPL Energy
Size: 75 MW
Location: McCamey, TX
Installed: May 1999
This project consists of 107 Multipower 48 NEG Micon WTGs. Located 350 miles southwest of Dallas, the Southwest Mesa Wind Energy Project sits atop a 2000 feet mesa. The local communities and local landowners welcome the project and the long term business activities it provides. During the construction of the project more than 200 jobs were provided on-site and many local subcontractors were involved. The wind farm was completed in only 4 months. American Electric Power purchases the power in a response to their customer’s demand for renewables. The wind farm generates sufficient electricity to meet the demand of more than 20,000 households.
In 2001 by resolution of the Texas legislature McCamey was declared the “Wind Energy Capital of Texas”
Official Capital Designations - Texas State Library
Wind Energy Capital of Texas
McCamey
House Resolution No. 472, Senate Resolution No. 134, 77th Legislature, Regular Session (2001)
Texas Legislature
By Turner of ColemanH.R. No. 472
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The West Texas city of McCamey contributes to the local economy as both a livestock shipping point for area ranchers and a center of oil activity; and
WHEREAS, With its ideal location amid the mesas of Upton County, McCamey is in the vanguard of exciting new developments taking place in the state to harness wind energy; and
WHEREAS, Today the city’s economy is stimulated by such endeavors as the newly completed Southwest Mesa Project, as well as construction of the Woodward and King Mountain projects and the Indian Mesa Project; and
WHEREAS, Inexhaustable and cost-effective, wind energy offers exceptional benefits for citizens throughout the Lone Star State; environmentally safe, wind power yields no harmful byproducts, such as those causing acid rain, smog, and global warming; and
WHEREAS, With the construction of four wind projects outside of McCamey, the community is most deserving of special recognition acknowledging its significant role in the development of this emerging technology; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas Legislature hereby recognize McCamey as the Wind Energy Capital of Texas.