Each of the six wind turbines owned by Revolution Energy at the Port of Corpus Christi generates enough electricity to power 300 to 400 homes a day. Apex Energy proposes to build a similar farm on the Southside by Chapman Ranch. Staff photo
The first of several planned annexations was approved unanimously by the Corpus Christi city council this week in hopes of stopping a proposed windmill energy farm near Chapman Ranch on the Southside.
Phase 1, which takes in 16 acres, was approved at a meeting Tuesday. Phase 2, which is 40 square miles, will happen only if wind developer Apex Energy continues with its plans to build 176 windmills south of town.
The intention is make sure the city can regulate windmill development, Mayor Nelda Martinez explained at the contentious meeting. Speakers for both sides of the issue were often heated in their comments. Members of the public spoke on the issue before the council went into a two-and-a-half hour, closed-door executive session.
Back in regular session, each council member explained his or her reasons for the annexation vote. Council member Chad McGill abstained because of a possible conflict of interest.
Most council members voiced concerns that the wind farm would adversely affect the Naval Air Station where pilots are trained. Windmills can interfere with radar readings. With federal hearings on possible base closures looming, council members do not want to do anything to jeopardize the effectiveness of base operations, they said.
"This is not a risk I'm not willing to take," Martinez said in her remarks.
The annexation resolution was accompanied by an additional vote to fund utility installation in the area. State law requires a city to provide infrastructure such as streets and utilities within four and a half years of annexation.
Opponents of the move voiced anger that the city will be providing services in sparsely populated area when the infrastructure in the rest of the city is in such bad condition. Another opponent said it was "abhorrent that we are going out of our way as a city to stop a green energy project."
Apex had hoped to reach a compromise with the city to avoid annexation and be able to proceed with the project unhindered by additional regulations. A company spokesman, former Rep. Hugo Berlango, said the wind farm will be built whether the 16-acres — or any other land — is annexed. In fact, increasing the cost of building the windmills could mean more will be built to make the project economically feasible. Berlanga said the 176 planned windmills could double in number if all 59 square miles is annexed.
