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.
Free Market Friday: How do we limit cronyism?
Oklahoma’s wind subsidies have moved from scandal to farce. First, we saw some 40 lobbyists swarm the state Capitol to try to preserve one of the most generous systems of tax credits granted to any industry in any state. Then, we learned that shadowy characters associated with the industry seem to have been stalking legislators, even placing a tracking device on the truck of a legislator who opposes the handouts. Complete story »
OCC makes no decision on Wind Catcher
Oklahoma Corporation Commission held a hearing for the proposed Wind Catcher Energy Connection project Monday and Tuesday, and a decision on pre-approval still awaits. The hearing involved the proposed settlements and motions in the Wind Catcher case, and “concerns an application by Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) requesting preapproval of the costs of the Wind Catcher wind energy project,” according to OCC. “Arguments were heard regarding the proposed agreements in the case. New legal issues were raised in the . . . Complete story »
Oklahoma Corporation Commission wraps up testimony on proposed Wind Catcher settlements, but no decision was made
Consumer protection issues dominated discussions Tuesday before elected members of Oklahoma’s Corporation Commission as they continued a hearing on the Wind Catcher Energy Connection project. Public Service Co. of Oklahoma’s regulatory vice president and expert witnesses for various parties involved in two settlements the utility proposes to move the project forward spent much of the day answering questions on that topic. So did a witness for the Oklahoma Attorney General’s office, which opposes the settlements along with the commission’s Public . . . Complete story »
Hearing over Wind Catcher recovery cost continues
OKLAHOMA CITY – Landowners both in opposition and support of a large wind energy project returned for a second day of testimony at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. The Commission is considering whether or not to grant a pre-approval request by the Public Service Company (‘PSO’) to recover $1.36 billion in costs related to the construction of the Wind Catcher Energy Connection. The $4.5 billion project includes a wind farm in the panhandle of Oklahoma which will be connected to a . . . Complete story »
OK Corporation Commission considers Wind Catcher, extends hearing to second day
Members of Oklahoma’s Corporation Commission on Monday heard from Public Service Co. of Oklahoma’s regulatory vice president and dozens of Oklahomans who either support or oppose the proposed Wind Catcher Energy Connection project. They listened to the testimony as part of their consideration of an application PSO has filed with the commission that seeks preapproval to recover from ratepayers its costs related to the $4.5 billion project. If approved, the utility would be allowed to recover about $1.4 billion in . . . Complete story »
Differing approach to oil and wind raises questions
Claims that politicians vote based solely on who gives them the most campaign cash are typically overblown. But one can understand why some Oklahomans might connect those dots when it comes to the wind industry’s recent activity. American Wind Action, an advocacy group, reported spending $178,693 on radio and digital ads touting 15 legislative candidates. Most of that money was spent defending representatives who opposed efforts to reduce tax breaks and state payments to the wind industry. Of the 15 . . . Complete story »
Wind Catcher proposal is before the Oklahoma Corporation Commission on Monday
The Oklahoma Corporation Commission will consider on Monday whether or not to allow Public Service Co. to recover costs related to its Wind Catcher Energy Connection plans. If approved, the utility would be allowed to recover $1.36 billion in costs to buy 30 percent of the 2,000 megawatt Wind Catcher farm being built in Oklahoma’s Panhandle. Along with co-owning the generating facility with its American Electric Power sister company, Southwestern Electric Power, the two also propose building and operating a . . . Complete story »
Wind power concerns
Are people in favor of wind energy due to the sophistication of the wind power lobbyists, or to our gullibility? Wind is always and only “weather-dependent.” Wind energy is not free, not clean and not cheap. Wind energy cannot replace hydrocarbons as an energy source. Steven Blue, Edmond Complete story »
Renewable energy developer says they will not build wind farms near SAFB
Renewable energy developer, Innergex, will not be building wind farms near Sheppard Air Force Base after nearly two years of consideration. It doesn’t mean the process is over, but for now, Sheppard can rest assured knowing no training missions will be lost to those turbines. “We’re really grateful for the decision Innergex made to kind of back away from their plans to build wind farms near Byers and Bluegrove for the time being,” Chief of Public Affairs at SAFB, George . . . Complete story »
PSO adjusts Wind Catcher power line plans; Bixby drops opposition
BIXBY – The Bixby City Council withdrew its opposition to the Wind Catcher Energy Connection power line project Monday evening after Public Service Co. of Oklahoma presented an alternate plan to not only use existing right-of-way through the southern part of the town but to rebuild that route with smaller towers. Instead of building a new substation in Bixby, one would be constructed “at least 10 miles” to the west, said PSO President and COO Stuart Solomon. That would put the . . . Complete story »
