Texas rancher said no to wind turbines twice; royalties now help his ranch
A Texas rancher who initially opposed wind turbines on his property eventually agreed to host them to secure a stable income stream. The project has provided a financial lifeline, helping the rancher manage the costs of livestock operations during difficult economic conditions.
Why it matters
It illustrates the intersection of traditional agriculture and renewable energy, showing how wind power can support rural economic sustainability.
A fifth-generation West Texas rancher twice rejected plans to put wind turbines on his family’s property before eventually agreeing to host seven turbines. Today, the wind project has become an important source of regular income for John E Davis, helping him continue his ranching operation and invest in other projects in the community.Davis, a former Texas state representative and former chair of the House Economic and Small Business Development Committee, owns the ranch with his brother, Keith Davis. The property is near the Concho County-Menard County line. The family was first approached about the wind project in 2016, but Davis said they did not want “any of those ugly old wind turbines” on their land, Texas Energy and Power.com reported.The developers returned about a year and a half later. The brothers rejected the proposal again before eventually agreeing to join the Cactus Flats wind project in Concho County.
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