TED Business How Texas became America’s biggest producer of wind energy | Speed & Scale
Oct 9, 2025
Join Pat Wood, former chairman of the Texas Public Utility Commission, as he shares how Texas transitioned from an oil powerhouse to the leading wind energy producer in the U.S. He discusses the critical role of innovative policies and public support in transforming perceptions about renewables. Wood recounts pivotal moments, like Governor Bush's influence and the 1999 Renewable Portfolio Standard. The conversation highlights how strategic transmission investments not only made wind energy feasible but also reduced emissions significantly.
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Bush’s Offhand Prompt Sparked Action
- Pat Wood learned Governor George W. Bush told him "We like wind," prompting him to get smart on renewables.
- He used Texas' deliberative polling results to put conservation and renewables into legislation.
Public Opinion Drove Policy
- Deliberative polling revealed widespread Texan support for conservation and renewables across demographics.
- Pat Wood translated that public mandate into the 1999 Renewable Portfolio Standard requiring new renewables.
A Smoker’s Plea For Cleaner Air
- Pat remembers a smoking Beaumont man named Jim pleading, "We got to clean up the goddamn air."
- That grassroots moment reinforced local support for renewables.
