Monday, June 25, the U.S. Department of Energy selected a site north of Corpus Christi for one of two $20 million wind-turbine and blade-testing facilities.  The Texas Legislature also pledged $5 million toward the construction of the project through the state budget.  Another $5 million is pending final approval through the state's Emerging Technology Fund, and Lone Star Wind Alliance has pledged $18 million to design, build and operate the facility.

Europe has nearly 70 percent of the world's installed wind-energy capacity.  Yet capacity in the United States grew faster last year, according to the Global Wind Energy Council.  Now Texas has passed California to become the number one wind-energy state, providing nearly a quarter of the country's capacity, according to the American Wind Energy Association. Besides being home to the world's largest wind farm near Abilene, there are several Texas businesses that manufacture and transport wind turbines.

Many people feel that wind farms are uneconomic and unreliable, yet there are plans to build the nation's largest wind-energy production facility on 220 acres in Gray, Roberts, Hemphill and Wheeler counties of the Texas Panhandle.  Should you join in?  The Panhandle Regional Planning Commission and the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce, as well as some other organizations, are teaming up to address this issue at the Wind Energy Conference at the Amarillo Civic Center on Wednesday, August 1st.

Bill & Dave:  How Hewlett and Packard Built the World's Greatest Company 

by Michael S. Malone

Blog Schmog:  The truth About What Blogs Can (and Can't) Do For Your Business  by Robert W. Bly

Buddha:  9 to 5 - The Eightfold Path to Enlightening Your Workplace

and Improving Your Bottom Line

by Nancy Spears

Coolhunting:  Chasing Down the Next Big Thing

by Peter Gloor and Scott Cooper

Crazy Bosses

by Stanley Bing

New Ideas from Dead CEOs:  Lasting Lessons from the Corner Office

by odd G. Buchholz

No Yelling:  The Nine Secrets of Marine Corps Leadership

You Must Know to Win in Business

by Wally Adamchik

Rules for Renegades:  How to Make More Money, Rock Your Career,

and Revel in Your Individuality

by Christine Comaford-Lynch

Type:  The Last American Typesetter or How I Lost $4 Million

(An Entrepreneur's Education)

by David Silverman

Your Management Sucks:  Why You Have to Declare War on Yourself...

and Your Business

by Mark Stevens.