TEXAS BIGGEST BLOWHARD

Who's Number One? Hook 'em!
Texas tops in wind energy production
STEVE QUINN, July 25, 2006 (Associated Press/ Yahoo News)

- Long known as a top oil- and natural gas-producing state, Texas has gained new energy acclaim by becoming the nation's top producer of wind energy.
- Texas capacity stands at 2,370 megawatts, enough to power 600,000 average-sized homes a year..

- That puts Texas slightly ahead of California, the nation's leader since 1981...The total U.S. capacity is 9,971 megawatts...So far this year, Texas has added 375 megawatts, or 46 percent of the total 822 megawatts brought online nationwide...

- Last year, wind energy generation grew 35 percent nationwide, adding 2,431 megawatts, but that fell short of the projected 2,500. The wind association believes it can add 3,000 megawatts nationwide this year, even if that means another 2,178 megawatts by year's end...