January 5, 2019
Oklahoma

Defense, NextEra extend deadline

Enid News & Eagle | January 5, 2019 | www.enidnews.com

The Department of Defense and NextEra Energy have extended the deadline to reach a mitigation plan on a wind farm along a route of airspace the military uses for training.

Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter announced the extension Friday. NextEra has been authorized to proceed with construction on turbines that have been approved by the FAA.

Construction on the company’s wind farm west of Hinton was stopped in October after NextEra and Oklahoma Strategic Military Planning Commission agreed to work on a mitigation plan with the Defense Department to resolve the issue. The new deadline to reach an agreement is Jan. 31.

OSMPC contends the wind farm violates a recent amendment to the Wind Energy Development Act. Changes to the law require a determination by the federal government that planned wind turbine construction has no military impact, or the company must have an approved mitigation plan from the Defense Department before a wind farm is constructed or expanded.

Hunter is representing OSMPC in negotiations.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2019/01/05/defense-nextera-extend-deadline/