Texas is the undisputed leader in wind energy with over 40 GW of installed capacity—more than the next three states combined. From the Panhandle to West Texas, the Lone Star State's excellent wind resources, available land, and business-friendly environment have made it the destination for wind development.
This guide covers the complete wind farm construction process, from initial site assessment through commercial operation, with specific focus on Texas requirements, timelines, and the critical site preparation work that ensures project success.
📋 In This Guide
Why Texas Dominates Wind Energy
Exceptional Wind
West Texas and Panhandle average 7-9 m/s wind speeds
Available Land
Millions of acres of ranching land available for development
CREZ Lines
$7B transmission investment connects wind to load
Business Climate
No state income tax, streamlined permitting
🗺️ Best Wind Regions in Texas
West Texas
Abilene, Big Spring, Sweetwater - Excellent wind + land availability
Texas Panhandle
Amarillo, Lubbock - Highest wind speeds in state
South Texas
Coastal wind corridor - Consistent Gulf breezes
Wind Farm Construction Timeline
Site Selection & Wind Assessment
Identify sites with strong wind resources (typically wind class 3+), available land, and grid access. Install meteorological towers to measure wind speeds for 12-24 months to validate resource estimates.
Land Acquisition & Agreements
Secure land through leases with landowners, typically paying $3,000-$10,000 per turbine per year plus royalties. Negotiate easements for roads, collection lines, and transmission corridors.
Permitting & Environmental Review
Complete environmental studies including bird/bat surveys, wetland delineation, and cultural resource reviews. Obtain all required permits from federal, state, and local authorities.
Engineering & Procurement
Finalize turbine selection and procurement, complete civil and electrical engineering, and award construction contracts. Order turbines 12-18 months before needed delivery.
Site Preparation & Civil Work
Clear vegetation for roads and pads, construct access roads and crane pads, excavate and pour turbine foundations, install collection system cabling, and build O&M facilities.
Turbine Installation & Commissioning
Erect turbine towers, install nacelles and blades using large cranes, connect electrical systems, and complete commissioning testing before commercial operation.
⏱️ Timeline Summary
Pre-Construction: 24-36 months
Site Preparation: 3-6 months
Construction: 12-24 months
Total (Site to COD): 4-6 years
Wind Farm Site Requirements
✅ Ideal Site Characteristics
- • Wind Class: 3+ (6.4+ m/s average)
- • Terrain: Open, minimal obstructions
- • Land Area: 5,000+ acres for utility-scale
- • Spacing: 5-9 rotor diameters between turbines
- • Setbacks: 1,000+ ft from structures
- • Access: Road access for heavy equipment
❌ Site Challenges
- • Eagle nesting areas
- • Bat migration corridors
- • Military/civilian radar interference
- • Airport proximity
- • Wetlands and water features
- • Residential density
📐 Land Requirements Per Turbine
Wind Farm Development Costs
💰 Typical Development Costs (2026)
| Cost Category | Per MW | 100 MW Project |
|---|---|---|
| Wind Turbines | $800,000-$1,200,000 | $80-120M |
| Foundations | $100,000-$150,000 | $10-15M |
| Roads & Site Prep | $80,000-$150,000 | $8-15M |
| Electrical Collection | $100,000-$200,000 | $10-20M |
| Grid Interconnection | $100,000-$300,000 | $10-30M |
| Total | $1.3-2M | $130-200M |
Wind Farm Site Preparation
Site preparation is critical for wind farm construction success. While wind farms have a smaller footprint than solar (1-2% of land is disturbed), the work that is required must be done to exacting standards to support heavy crane operations and turbine foundations.
🛤️ Access Road Construction
- • Width: 20-30 feet for blade delivery
- • Grade: <8% for crane mobility
- • Base: Compacted aggregate/caliche
- • Clearing: 40-50 ft wide corridor
- • Turns: Large radius for blade trucks
🏗️ Crane Pad Construction
- • Size: 200x200 ft typical
- • Surface: Compacted, level
- • Load bearing: Support 1,000+ ton cranes
- • Clearing: Full vegetation removal
🕳️ Foundation Excavation
- • Diameter: 50-80 ft
- • Depth: 8-12 ft typical
- • Clearing: 100 ft radius
- • Staging: Material storage areas
⚡ Collection System
- • Trenching: 3-4 ft deep
- • ROW: 20-30 ft wide cleared
- • Length: Miles of cable runs
- • Substation: 2-5 acre cleared pad
🤝 Bear Claw Wind Farm Services
Bear Claw provides comprehensive site preparation for wind energy developers across Texas:
- ✓ Access road clearing and grading
- ✓ Crane pad site preparation
- ✓ Collection system ROW clearing
- ✓ O&M building site preparation
- ✓ Experience with Texas wind projects
Texas Wind Farm Permits
🏛️ Local Permits
- • County/city conditional use or special use permit
- • Building permits for O&M facilities
- • Road access and cut permits
✈️ Federal Aviation Administration
- • Obstruction Evaluation / Aeronautical Study
- • Determination of No Hazard required
- • Aircraft warning lights specification
🦅 Wildlife Permits
- • USFWS Eagle Take Permit (if eagles present)
- • Incidental Take Permit (if listed species)
- • Bird and bat mortality monitoring plans
⚡ ERCOT Interconnection
- • Interconnection request and studies
- • Interconnection agreement
- • Resource registration
Building a Wind Farm in Texas?
Bear Claw provides professional site preparation for wind energy developers. From access road construction to crane pad preparation, we have the equipment and experience to support your project timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does wind farm construction cost in Texas?
Wind farm construction in Texas typically costs $1.3-2 million per MW, including turbines, foundations, roads, and grid connection. A 100 MW wind farm costs approximately $130-200 million total. Texas benefits from lower land costs and excellent wind resources that improve project economics.
How long does it take to build a wind farm?
Wind farm construction typically takes 18-36 months from ground-breaking to commercial operation. Site preparation takes 3-6 months, turbine foundation construction 6-12 months, turbine installation 3-6 months, and commissioning 2-3 months. The full development cycle from site selection to operation is 4-6 years.
How much land is needed for a wind farm in Texas?
Wind farms require approximately 60-80 acres per MW for optimal turbine spacing, though only about 1-2% is actually disturbed. A 100 MW wind farm might span 6,000-8,000 acres total but only 100-200 acres would be cleared for roads, foundations, and facilities.
What site preparation is needed for wind turbines?
Wind turbine site prep includes access road construction (20-30 ft wide), crane pad construction (200x200 ft per turbine), foundation excavation (50-80 ft diameter, 8-12 ft deep), collector system trenching, and O&M building pads. Vegetation clearing is required for all disturbed areas.
Why is Texas #1 for wind energy?
Texas leads the nation in wind energy with 40+ GW of installed capacity due to excellent wind resources (especially in West Texas and the Panhandle), abundant available land, business-friendly regulations, ERCOT market access, and competitive renewable energy zones (CREZ) transmission infrastructure.
What permits are required for wind farms in Texas?
Texas wind farms require county/city building permits, FAA Obstruction Evaluation, USFWS eagle and bat permits, TCEQ stormwater permits, Army Corps wetland permits (if applicable), and ERCOT interconnection approval. Texas is considered relatively permitting-friendly for wind development.