ODC to vote on Texas Tech wind program

The board of the Odessa Development Corp. will vote Thursday on spending $100,000 for an agreement with the Texas Tech University System and an affiliated program that is designed to help land wind energy related projects.

The agreement, which pays Texas Tech $75,000 and the National Institute for Renewable Energy $25,000, is designed to create collaborative efforts and assist ODC in economic development of wind energy research, job training and job creation, according to ODC’s information packet.

Among the successes the program cites are landing an Alstom wind manufacturing plant in the Amarillo area and the launch of a research wind farm. It looks to develop commercial wind projects that also provide access for research and development purposes.

Other West Texas economic development groups have supported Texas Tech’s efforts, including $150,000 each from Amarillo and Lamesa, with Lamesa’s funding being paid out over three years. Midland paid $85,000 toward the program, while Abilene, Lubbock, Snyder, Plainview and Sweetwater have agreed to pay $50,000. San Angelo paid $10,000 for the program.

The board will also vote on having fiscal year 2010 audit services provided by Weaver and Tidwell LLP for an estimated $10,800.

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