Chinese to fund $1.5B Texas wind farm

UNDATED (AP) - China is taking a big leap into the U.S. renewable energy market with a project in West Texas.

China is putting up $1.5 billion for a 36,000-acre wind farm -- with the power to light up 180,000 homes.

The project is a joint venture with U.S. Renewable Energy Group, Austin-based Cielo Wind Power LP and Shenyang Power Group of China.

Executives would only say the project will be in West Texas and built within several counties.

China's A-Power Energy Generation Systems Ltd. will begin shipping the 2.5-megawatt turbines in March, built in the company's plant in the city of Shenyang.

Over the summer, Dallas businessman T. Boone Pickens said he was backing off plans to erect 687 giant wind turbines over four counties in the Texas Panhandle, and is looking to sell them.