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 are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
Oklahoma congressman says wind turbines are endangering U.S. airmen
According to U.S. representative Steve Russell, new wind turbines are being built in a hot spot for low level flight training that Air Force Bases in Oklahoma use. The turbines are so tall, Russell says it could make that flight training too dangerous for airmen. “What we need to do, is make sure companies who are subsidized by U.S. tax dollars are not putting U.S. service men and women in jeopardy, to secure their profits that are tax subsidized. They’ve . . . Complete story »
Wind cronyism costs linger
How did mankind figure out fire without a government program? These days every new technology has backers who insist they are one more government check away from being the next big thing. That was the Solyndra story, and in Oklahoma, it is the story of wind farm companies. Crony handouts are unfair – the biggest, best-connected companies benefit, often at the expense of the little guy or the disruptive outsider. They are also addictive. Even after the Oklahoma Legislature repealed . . . Complete story »
Rep. Russell on Hinton wind turbine construction
OKLAHOMA CITY – NextEra Energy is currently putting up wind turbines out in southwest Canadian County, as part of the company’s Minco IV wind farm. The company submitted its original plans for this project in 2016. Those plans were OK’d by the FAA as presenting ‘no hazard’ to aviation. But NextEra didn’t build those, instead submitting revised plans to the FAA this year in March. The 2018 plans have not yet been given a ‘no hazard’ designation. But this summer, . . . Complete story »
OCC addresses controversial wind turbine construction
The Oklahoma Corporation Commission heard concerns Tuesday about a wind farm near the town of Hinton. NextEra is building more than 160 turbines, and many neighbors say they are do it illegally. “The law is very clear,” said attorney Kim Spady, who represents some neighbors from Hinton. Spady points to the new law which took effect in May. It states a wind developer must obtain what’s called a “no hazard” determination for each turbine from the Federal Aviation Administration or . . . Complete story »
Wind farm fight may ‘drastically affect’ Oklahoma policy
What do you get by pursuing an economic development project that involves two Oklahoma counties, three school districts, a school bond, a municipal trust, a wind farm and an international energy conglomerate partially owned by the sovereign nation of France? Lawsuits, of course. Pending litigation over the property tax obligations of Rock Falls Wind Project in Grant and Kay counties could set dramatic new precedents and fundamentally change the way wind-energy projects are incentivized in Oklahoma. In addition, the complex . . . Complete story »
Turbine construction continues after cease and desist order
OKLAHOMA CITY – A Florida-based energy company continues to put up wind turbines in western Oklahoma, despite a request from the state to ‘cease and desist.’ The construction would seem to violate state law, and yet it’s not at all clear if the law can be enforced, at least in this particular case. Last Friday, the Chairman of the Oklahoma Strategic Military Planning Commission, Mike Cooper, and the Director of the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission, Victor Bird, jointly sent a letter . . . Complete story »
Nextera energy receives cease and desist order after violating OK law
OKLAHOMA CITY – State leaders have formally notified Florida-based NextEra Energy that the company’s recent construction of nearly two dozen wind turbines in Canadian County violates a new state law. In a letter signed by both Strategic Military Planning Commission Chairman Mike Cooper and Aeronautics Commission Director Victor Bird, NextEra is ordered to “cease and desist immediately the construction on any and all turbines associated with the Minco IV/V windfarm” until the necessary approvals are filed with the Corporation Commission. . . . Complete story »
Florida based energy company violates new law
HINTON, Oklahoma – The actions of a Florida-based energy company are proving to be a test case for a new law intended to protect what many believe is Oklahoma’s most valuable military asset – air space. A News 9 investigation reveals the company, NextEra Energy, is putting up new wind turbines without the needed federal approval, in violation of a recently approved state law. The law, which took effect in May, mandates that wind developers obtain either “no hazard” determinations for . . . Complete story »
PSO files to withdraw Wind Catcher application with OCC
OKLAHOMA CITY – Public Service Co. of Oklahoma on Tuesday filed to withdraw its application for the Wind Catcher Energy Connection project with Oklahoma Corporation Commission. On July 26, Texas Public Utility Commission voted to reject the certificate of convenience and necessity sought by Southwestern Electric Power Co. and based on that rejection, American Electric Co. – parent company to PSO SWEPCO – decided to not pursue the Wind Catcher project, according to the application for withdrawal filed Tuesday. “Therefore, PSO is withdrawing . . . Complete story »
Commissioners discuss wind farm proposal
The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners heard plans for the intentions of a wind farm on property around the Eldon area during their Aug. 6 meeting. “It’s still in the early, early stages,” said Jeremy Ingram, JBS Energy Solutions of Wellington, Kansas. Ingram told commissioners the wind farm would be primarily on private property, and the owner would enter a 20-year lease agreement with JBS Energy Solutions. The company would also try to lease additional private property to gain access . . . Complete story »
