TED Talks Daily Sunday Pick: How Texas became America’s biggest producer of wind energy | Speed & Scale
15 snips
Oct 5, 2025 Pat Wood, the former chairman of the Texas Public Utility Commission, played a pivotal role in transforming Texas from an oil-dominated state to America’s leading wind energy producer. He discusses the innovative policies, such as the Renewable Portfolio Standard, that enabled substantial investment in wind power. Wood highlights how bipartisan support and economic incentives were crucial for this transition, even amidst challenges like the 2021 climate blame game. The conversation reveals how Texas managed to cut grid emissions despite ongoing fossil fuel expansion.
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Refinery Roots In Port Arthur
- Pat Wood grew up in Port Arthur surrounded by Gulf Oil refinery operations which shaped his relationship with energy.
- He assumed every town had a refinery and recalls his grandmother calling it "bread and butter."
Deliberative Polling Shaped Policy
- Pat ran deliberative polling where everyday Texans learned about energy and overwhelmingly supported renewables and conservation.
- Governor George W. Bush saw the results and told Pat to put those priorities into law.
Smoking Jim's Clear Message
- Pat remembers a smoking man named Jim telling him bluntly: "We got to clean up the goddamn air."
- That moment crystallized public support for renewables across diverse Texans.
