Cliff Etheredge, a lifelong cotton farmer, today a 2009 TCEQ award winner. TCEQ- the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality; awards the highest environmental achievement in the state of Texas. 2009 marks its 17^th year of recognizing innovative projects and individuals within the state of Texas that have demonstrated positive effects on air, water and land resources.

10 awards were given this year, one of which was awarded to Cliff Etheredge for “breathing new life into a community by working to establish the largest wind farm in the world in tiny Roscoe, Texas.”

The TEEA talks about the journey of Cliff Etheredge from cotton farmer to wind farmer- “In 2003, Cliff Etheredge turned his attention from the soil to the sky and poured his energy into the business of wind energy. Putting himself through a crash course to learn everything he could about the wind industry, this lifelong cotton farmer also began convincing more than 350 landowners representing nearly 100,000 acres to believe in his vision. One by one, day by day, he got their commitment. Therein lay the roots of the groundbreaking Roscoe Wind Project, which will be the largest wind farm—a group of wind turbines in the same location used for production of electric power—in the world upon its completion later this year.”

Read more about what the TEEA says about Cliff Etheredge and his well deserved TCEQ award.