Wind whispers of Enron

The electricity market in Texas, according to Bradley, shows how the thinking works. Enron, of course, was interested in the trading opportunities. But deregulation came with side effects.

While claiming to be deregulated — though many proponents now prefer the euphemism "restructured" — the market remains partially regulated, creating a huge profit-making opportunity for generators while leaving consumers with higher bills and more risk.

"It's a market, but it's a government-created market," Bradley said. "It's something very different than deregulation."

Similarly, Bradley said Enron was a major backer of the state's 1999 mandate calling for the development of renewable energy sources, including wind generation. The mandate also appealed to environmental groups, of course.

Sitting idle

We like the idea of wind power because it seems natural and clean. Windmills, after all, are part of our pastoral vision of Americana — power, nostalgia and patriotism rolled into one. What's not to like?

Only the economics. Wind power, despite the government's best efforts to create a market, continues to be dogged by the same problems it always has: high costs, limited reliability and bad location.

No wind, after all, blows forever, and when it does, it's not blowing where people need power.

Even now, West Texas wind farms sit idle, awaiting new power lines to take high-priced power to the people.

"Wind technologies actually predate fossil fuels and have been experimental and uncompetitive in electricity generation for over a century," Bradley said.

Deregulation has already given many Texas consumers — especially those in the Houston area — some of the nation's highest electric rates. Now, we could wind up footing the estimated $6.4 billion bill for transmission lines to bring wind-generated power eastward.

When it gets here, its higher costs will flow right down the transmission lines and shock our pocketbooks, which already are singed by spiraling prices from conventional generation.

Proponents of wind power argue that fuel cost savings and other benefits will outweigh the higher costs in a few years, but their studies seem a little too rosy and their promises have a foreboding ring.

It sounds too much like the failed promises of lower bills used to hoodwink us on deregulation.

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