SWEETWATER, Texas — Wind energy is a fast-growing field, making up 16 percent of the electricity of the state of Texas.
According to the office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the annual wind speed for Texas averages to about 80 meters per second.
An ever-growing industry, Texas State Technical College in Sweetwater teaches the next generation over wind energy technology.
However, what happens once severe weather strikes in west Texas?
"When the winds reach a certain mile per hour, which is actually meters per second, they usually do a storm shutdown and they just let them pinwheel. So, it doesn't damage any of the blades or any of the components inside,” said TSTC wind energy technology lead instructor, Ron Rendon.
The turbines are also programmed to shut down when ice is present.
Each turbine has three blades, each blade ranges about 125 feet long with lighting protection inside.
“It's a wire that basically runs down the center of the blade and it’s got a lighting puck at the end so when lighting strikes it’s supposed to take it to ground and protect the blade from splitting,” said Rendon.
Despite severe weather, Rendon reminds all students that safety is the most important factor.
"We'll do the introduction of the wind and the first thing they learn is safety, safety, safety…electricity is very unforgiving,” said Rendon.