Wind Power News: Oklahoma
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
Wind turbine catches fire, collapses after storms move through Custer County
OKLAHOMA CITY – A wind turbine in Custer County was nearly brought to the ground after it caught fire during a storm on Tuesday afternoon. The turbine was located near State Highway 47 and North 2300 Road. News 9 Storm Tracker Jeromy Carter was on the scene while crews assessed the damage. Currently, it is unclear how the turbine caught fire or if anyone was injured. This is a developing story, stay with News 9 for the latest updates. Complete story »
Oklahoma wind turbine is no match for Mother Nature
CUSTER COUNTY, Okla. – A massive wind turbine at one of the country’s largest wind farms is no more, thanks to the impacts of a strong thunderstorm that moved through central Oklahoma on Tuesday. First responders arrived at the Traverse Wind Energy Center around 4:30 p.m. to find one of the turbines on fire. Video from the scene showed what is believed to be one of the massive GE turbines on the ground with its support structure folded as if . . . Complete story »
Wind turbine collapses near Ames
AMES, Okla. – Authorities are looking into what caused a wind turbine to collapse in Major County. Ames Fire Chief Mike Willey said a resident who lives about a mile away from where the turbine stood heard a thud, looked over and saw the downed turbine and reported it. Ames Volunteer Fire Department responded at 6:45 p.m. Monday. There was no fire, and firefighters contained the scene while waiting for company representative to respond, which they did in about half an . . . Complete story »
Oklahoma wind farm sanctioned for safety violations is sold to new ownership
GUYMON – NextEra Energy Resources plans to build 57 new wind turbines across part of Oklahoma’s Panhandle as part of a project that will replace one owned by Olympia Renewable Platform LLC that was sanctioned by regulators for safety violations. NextEra officials said this week the company closed on a deal to acquire Olympia’s rights to harvest wind energy from an area between Guymon and Hardesty for an undisclosed amount. The Public Utility Division of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission took a . . . Complete story »
Wind farm dispute causing nearly $800,000 to be withheld from Davis public schools
Murray county is home to two wind farms totaling 175 windmills. When they first arrived they were given a 5 year tax exemption. Now that their tax exemption has ended the amount they owe is determined by their property value but that value is being disputed. “For this past year $189 million is what we had it valued at and they’re thinking it should be valued at $78 million,” said Murray County assessor Scott Kirby. One group that this money . . . Complete story »
Wind farms holding out nearly $800K from Davis schools
MURRAY COUNTY, Okla. (KTEN) – When the wind turbines you see along Interstate 35 were first installed, they received five years of tax exemptions. That time is now up. However, when it comes time to pay, there’s a disagreement between the county and the wind farms. “They feel like their value that we have for their wind farm is higher than what they feel like it should be valued,” said Murray County Assessor Scott Kirby. The money in question is frozen . . . Complete story »
Regulator ends safety case against Panhandle wind farm operator
Broken blades and burned-out nacelles that housed generators atop wind turbine towers that posed a threat to public safety at a wind farm in Oklahoma’s panhandle are gone. So are buried cables that connected damaged towers to infrastructure that at one time took power generated by the turbines onto the region’s transmission grid. The extensive damage was first reported on by The Oklahoman in June, after regulators issued an order to the owners of the wind farm to submit plans . . . Complete story »
Kingfisher County wind turbine catches fire
A wind turbine in Kingfisher County caught fire on Saturday afternoon. At 12:46 p.m., a fire was reported in the nacelle of a wind turbine at the Kingfisher Wind project in Kingfisher County, said Cat Strumlauf, a spokesperson with Apex Clean Energy, which operates the project. No damage to the surrounding area or injuries were reported. Local fire crews were dispatched to the sit, and the fire remained contained in the turbine until it went out, Strumlauf said in an . . . Complete story »
Kingfisher Fire Department responding to windmill fire
KINGFISHER COUNTY, Oklahoma – A fire has been reported at a windmill in Kingfisher County, officials confirmed Saturday. The fire is located on Reading Road south of State Highway 33. The Kingfisher County Sheriff’s Office said it is aware of the fire. Firefighters in Kingfisher are responding to the scene. This is a developing story. Complete story »
Schools suffer as companies protest tax valuations
OKLAHOMA CITY – When a wind farm decided to set up shop, Minco Public Schools saw its assessed tax base increase nearly $50 million in about a decade. With that increased valuation, the 250-student district, about 20 miles north of Chickasha, was able to finance a new high school, middle school and improve its athletic facilities, said Kevin Sims, superintendent. But in the past year, Sims learned that the county assessor and wind company disagreed on the valuation of the wind . . . Complete story »
