Ports-to-Plains

The Ports-to Plains Trade Corridor Alliance recently held its 12th annual conference in Lubbock, Texas, the very city in which the alliance was formed. The conference brought in experts from all across the nation and a few from Canada and Mexico as well.

The alliance is made up of communities, business leaders, government officials and many experts concerned with energy, agriculture and transportation throughout the corridor. The region covers 2,333 miles stretching from Laredo, Texas into Alberta, Canada; it crosses right through the panhandle of Texas. The purpose of the alliance is to bring awareness and spur build-out of the transportation system in order to bring economic benefits to America's heartland. One of the main focuses is on energy development.

Transportation is key; this phrase became a theme for the conference. That phrase is very true for the wind development throughout the corridor. Transportation is vital for wind energy development in West Texas and the corridor runs right through the wind rich region. In order to deliver the equipment for one wind turbine some eight to ten trucks have to be used. Not to mention the fact that turbines continue to get larger and as they do it will be important to have a transportation infrastructure that can handle the growing wind industry.

You can find out more about the corridor and the alliance formed to support it at www.portstoplains.com.

Also, congratulations goes out to Plainview's John Bertsch who was elected chairman of the Ports to Plains Alliance Board of Directors. Read more in this Plainview Daily Herald article.

Until next time...