Houston rewriting its energy game plan (Vestas Wind Systems coming to town)

[jpak]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/biz/5815356.html

Oil and gas may be the prime mover in Houston's economy, but a growing wind power business is proving there's more than one way to spell "energy" in the Bayou City.

Houston is already home to a handful of major wind power project developers, including those owned by oil and gas giants BP and Shell, thanks in large part to the state's ample wind resources, renewable energy incentives created by lawmakers and competitive power markets.

And the industry blew this way again Monday when Danish powerhouse Vestas Wind Systems said it will open its first U.S. research and development facility here. The office will open in 2009 and grow to about 100 researchers by early 2010, not including support staff, with more positions likely to come.

"Large-scale renewable energy has to be done in conjunction with major energy companies," said Ditlev Engel, Vestas chief executive. "There's no either-or with renewable and traditional fossil fuels. You need them all."

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[DCKit]

1. Competition is a good thing.