They have been seen coming down Federal Road from the ship channel or on the freeway. They're about 140 feet long, white, with one large, round end, then tapering off to a point at the other end. Usually there are three trucks carrying these objects, often preceded by a "wide load" warning car or a police escort while on the streets.

Believe it or not, these are propellers for giant wind turbines used to generate electricity.

The sight is becoming increasingly more common as huge "wind farms" are built in north and west Texas, and soon, in the Gulf of Mexico, 10 miles off Galveston and down the coastline.

Texas has long been considered the energy hub of the United States, and, as petroleum costs go up, alternative energy sources become more practical. "The great Texas wind rush is on," says Jerry Patterson, commissioner of the Texas General Land Office.

Often these wind farms are built on state property, and "wind rights" are leased to energy companies who install these wind farms to generate electricity. Profits from these leases go into the Permanent School Fund in Texas.

According to an article published at dated Oct. 31, 2005, "Since taking office in 2003, Patterson has pushed to make Texas a leader in sustainable energy. Already, the land office has earned more than $782,000 in royalties from the Delaware Mountains wind farm in West Texas."

The opening of wind farms off the coast will be a first for Texas. "This is important, because while oil and gas have been good for Texas, we need to think long-term and find new ways to put money into the Permanent School Fund," Patterson said. "Oil and gas won't last forever.

Today marks a new era for energy development in America, and what better place to begin than Texas. Texas knows energy, and we're ready to lead the nation toward establishing clean, reliable coastal wind power as an energy reality."

Texas has an advantage over other states in developing off-shore wind leases, according to the article cited above.

"In 1836, after securing independence from Mexico, Texas claimed the off-shore boundaries observed under Spanish, and then Mexican rule. Sam Houston, president of the new republic, successfully maintained sovereignty over all submerged lands in the Gulf out to 10.36 miles, or three marine leagues. Texas entered the Union in 1845 with its boundaries intact, and defeated an attempt at federal control of the tidelands in the 1950s. For this reason, there is only one entity in Texas for an offshore wind developer to deal with-the General Land Office."

Currently, there are two multimillion dollar leases that have been awarded for off-shore wind farms. As soon as environmental concerns over migratory bird patterns can be resolved, there are plans to build almost a billion dollars worth of wind farms. Wind farms generate electricity with far less pollution, and lessen dependence on foreign oil. Ocean wind turbines have been in use off the coast of Denmark for many years and proved safe under the type of high wind conditions that hurricanes might produce.

The wind turbines seen on the road in the last few weeks have come from India, and are being shipped to North Texas.

Fun Facts:

* The earliest known windmills were in Persia (Iran) and looked like large paddle wheels.

* Today, the largest wind turbines in the world have blades longer than a football field.

* A typical horizontal wind turbine stands as tall as a 20-story building and has three blades that span 200 feet across.

* One wind turbine can provide enough electricity for about 300 homes.

* Wind turbines in the U.S. generate 17 billion kilowatt-hours per year of electricity, enough to serve 1.6 million households.

* Wind energy is generated in 30 different states. Those with the most wind production are California, Texas, Minnesota, Iowa and Wyoming.

* The U.S. ranks third in the world in wind power capacity, behind Germany and Spain.

Reprinted with permission of FPL Energy, LLC. All rights reserved.