California no longer No. 1 in wind power. Would you believe that Texas now has the most hot air…

CALIFORNIA may be a leader in curbing greenhouse gases and creating solar power, but Texas hasbreezed past the Golden State as the nation’s top producer of wind power.

The Lone Star State, better known for its oil derricks and natural gas, now has a capacity of 2,370 wind-generated megawatts, enough to power 600,000 average-sized homes a year, according to a report released by the American Wind Energy Association.

California, the nation’s wind energy leader since 1981, has 2,323 wind-generated megawatts, a mere 47 megawatts less than Texas.

California industry observers shrugged off the development, describing it as a relatively small difference and citing the state’s overall record — nearly 11 percent of its electricity was generated by renewable forms of power in 2005 — as evidence of its good standing in conservation matters.

By Janis Mara, BUSINESS WRITER

Full Story: http://www.insidebayarea.com/business/ci_4279473