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 Texas' electric rates have risen sharply during the past 6 years due to rising natural gas prices. Wind which has zero fuel cost can help contain rising electricity costs. The generation cost savings of wind relative to natural gas should exceed the necessary investment in transmission, which is a modest expense relative to fuel costs. 
In addition, wind development provides many benefits such as jobs and tax base. Many communities in West Texas have embraced wind power as a desirable growth industry. If the Texas market is perceived to be substantial and stable as demonstrated by an RPS expansion investment in wind manufacturing in Texas is possible. (2005 Economic Development Study) ERCOT recently produced a study identifying cost of power plants and transmission lines. Transmission lines to west Texas would add up to $1.50 per 1000 kWh to customer bills. Wind power is shown as a clean, low cost source of electricity. Xcel Energy recently announced plans to increase use of wind-generated electric power, stating that "when the wind plants produce power, we can decrease production at our gas-fueled plants, thereby decreasing our customers¹ monthly bills."
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