December 12, 2016
Oklahoma

Wind project proposed in Alfalfa, Major, Garfield counties

By Emily Summars, Staff Writer | Enid News & Eagle | December 12, 2016 | www.enidnews.com

A new wind project may be coming to Alfalfa, Major and Garfield counties.

NextEra Energy Resources Inc., is proposing a 250-megawatt project in the area. Spokesman Steve Stengel said the proposed project is in early development stages.

“What we’re doing at this point is talking to land owners to gauge their interest in this project as well as looking at the electric system to see where our project would interconnect into the grid,” Stengel said. “We’re also talking to potential customers for the project. All these things happen in parallel.”

Stengel said if the project were to move forward, construction may begin in 2018.

The project, if approved, would most likely use a 2-megawatt platform of the General Electric turbine, meaning no more than 125 wind turbines in the project, Stengel said.

Power from the project would fuel about 75,000 to 80,000 average households, he said.

“We have a number of projects all across Oklahoma so we know the state very well,” Stengel said. “It’s a very pro-wind state and when we look at any project – it doesn’t matter if it’s Oklahoma or Illinois or California – there are some core common things you need: First, a good wind resource; second, you need land; third, you need access to the transmission system so you can move your power; and fourth, you need customers.”

Stengel said the company has found all things successfully in Oklahoma – a fact that is important to recognize early in development.

Stengel said the proposed project has a lot of work left – talking to landowners, gauging interest, hosting meetings – before making any further decisions.

Among the companies numerous projects in Oklahoma, NextEra Energy Resources subsidiary operates a wind project in Harper and Woodward counties. The project began commercial operation in 2003 and is a 102-megawatt wind generation plant.

In 2014, The Mammoth Plains Winds Project was created by Infinity Renewables. Mammoth Plains has 117 turbines and is owned and operated by NextEra Energy Resources. The project is about 199 megawatts.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2016/12/12/wind-project-proposed-in-alfalfa-major-garfield-counties/