May 12, 2016
Oklahoma

Another wind project coming to Garfield, Grant counties

By Emily Summars, Staff Writer | www.enidnews.com

HUNTER – Tradewind Energy is starting another wind energy project in the Hunter area.

The organization held a public meeting to discuss the Chisholm View Wind Project II on Wednesday evening. Construction is set to start in the middle of June, said Assistant Developer Brianna Baca.

Baca said more substantial activities will ramp up in July and August with turbine erection in late August to early September. The project is estimated to be completed by the end of 2016, she said.

The project will be constructed, owned and operated by Enel Green Power.

Chisholm View Wind Project II will consist of up to 32 wind turbines. The project will generate enough electricity to power more than 25,000 homes, Baca said. The project should be in Grant and Garfield counties, but the exact location of turbines still is being determined.

In February, Tradewind Energy informed Oklahoma Corporation Commission of its intent to construct the project in Garfield and Grant counties. The company also contacted county commissioners in both counties.

Construction began in 2012 on the first Chisholm View Wind Project, a 235-megawatt wind farm built between Hunter and Pond Creek. The project encompasses 45,000 acres and involves more than 150 landowners. Dedicated in 2013, the original 140-turbine project provides enough electricity to power about 80,000 homes and replace about 520,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

Development Manager Nick Coil said Tradewind Energy develops the projects to sell them to interested buyers.

“We find out interest, do leasing, environmental studies, design and find out where the wind turbines will go,” Coil said. “We have close relationships with the city and county. These projects don’t get built without buy in from the local community.”

District 2 County Commissioner Reese Wedel said any expansion is good for the area.

“Anything we can do to help them out, that’s what we’re here for,” he said. “They (Enel) take care of the road improvements and that stuff. We’re here to make sure things go smoothly. We don’t want constituents upset with issues. They make sure their crews know where they are supposed to be and not.”

Coil said it takes about five years to develop projects.

Chisholm View Wind Project II is a little easier than others, he said, because Tradewind has worked with Enel Green Power on its sister project.

“The reason we’re doing No. 2 is because we haven’t filled up – we didn’t sell all the interconnection agreement – so we’re able to build more and fill up that agreement. We had 65 megawatts left and found a buyer. We’re maxing out our potential for this project.”

Senior Project Engineer Matt Hopkins said the turbines on project two will have a larger diameter for the blade, but the turbines will have the same hub height as the first project.

Tradewind Energy currently has more than five projects ongoing in Oklahoma, including near Guymon and Breckinridge.

The Breckinridge Wind Project is 10 miles northeast of Enid and is 7 miles south of Chisholm View Wind Project.

Tradewind is required to provide notice to the state and county entities according to Senate Bill 808 signed by Gov. Mary Fallin in April 2015.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2016/05/12/another-wind-project-coming-to-garfield-grant-counties/