Field Trip: Sweetwater Wind Farm

On September 28, 2019, Texas Law students interested in careers in energy will get firsthand experience of the energy industry by touring the Sweetwater Wind Farm, one of the largest wind farms in the world! First, students will listen to a presentation on on wind turbine operation by the project manager at Leeward Wind Energy. They will then get a demonstration on wind turbine power monitoring and go inside an operational wind turbine. After the wind farm, they will visit 69 Ranch, which has over 100 wind turbines covered by one of the first wind leases in Nolan County. At Ranch 69, the students will listen to presentations on the impact of wind energy on the Sweetwater and West Texas economy by the director of Sweetwater Enterprise for Economic Development and local landowners in the surrounding wind projects. The wind tour will conclude with a driving tour to observe E.On’s Roscoe Wind Project, the third largest wind farm in the world. The students will get to network with attorneys and others involved in wind energy over a BBQ lunch. The wind tour is a great complement to the master class led by Rod Wetsel, an adjunct professor at Texas Tech University School of Law, on October 25, 2019. During the master class, Professor Wetsel will train students on how to negotiate and draft a wind lease, with a look at international and comparative perspectives.

Registration is limited to Texas Law students.