Houston - Shell WindEnergy Inc. and Luminant, a subsidiary of TXU Corp., have announced a joint development agreement for a 3,000-megawatt wind project in the Texas Panhandle and to work together on other renewable energy developments in Texas.  

Shell and Luminant will also explore the use of compressed air storage, in which excess power could be used to pump air underground for later use in generating electricity.  This technology will further improve reliability and grid usage and becomes more economical with large-scale projects, such as proposed for Briscoe County. 

Recent testimony by Shell before the Public Utility Commission of Texas demonstrated the Briscoe County project could deliver the lowest-cost wind energy for consumers. This low cost is driven by excellent wind resources and the comparatively lower cost to bring that energy to market from the Texas Panhandle region. 

"Shell is constantly looking for solutions to deal with climate change and increasing our energy diversity. Wind is part of the answer. Our approach is a cost-effective solution for consumers," said John Hofmeister, president of Shell Oil Company. 

“Luminant is committed to providing Texans with clean sources of energy, and this agreement with Shell is a real next step in delivering on that commitment” said Mike Childers, CEO of Luminant Development.  “Luminant is already the state leader in wind-energy purchases, and co-developing this project would take us a long way toward our goal of doubling our portfolio.”