State accepts wind power bids

Jerry Patterson, Commissioner of the Texas General Land Office, is seeking bidders for the nation's first-ever competitive lease sale for the rights to develop offshore wind power in the Gulf of Mexico.

"The future of our nation's offshore wind industry is off the Texas Gulf Coast," Patterson said. "There's international interest in these tracts and this will be the first time the market will be able to place a value on what I think is a very valuable asset."

Four offshore tracts will be leased for the development of wind energy as part of the regular oil and gas lease sale to be held on Oct. 2. The offshore wind energy tracts up for bid are near Jefferson, Calhoun, Brazoria and Cameron counties. The four tracts total 73,098 acres in size.

Patterson will hold a press conference to discuss the bid results at 2 p.m., Oct. 2 at the Stephen F. Austin Building, ninth floor, Room 940A, 17th and North Congress Avenue. Those unable to attend can view the announcement live via webcast here: http://www.glo.statetx.us/ news/webcast.html