Economic and environmental contributions provided by the wind industry across Oklahoma are paramount for the legislature to consider when debating revisions to business incentives provided by the state, the executive director of The Wind Coalition, an advocacy organization representing Oklahoma wind developers, said today.
Jeff Clark commented, “While much of the publicity surrounding the wind industry has focused on business incentives, there is another component of the industry not receiving as much attention, and that is the significant economic and environmental contributions wind energy provides across Oklahoma. Just last week The University of Tulsa College of Law hosted a Wind Energy Forum featuring panelists representing many viewpoints. I was privileged to be included, and based on the varied presentations; the wind industry is having a more broad-based contribution to Oklahoma than ever before.”
Multiple studies have shown wind energy creates high-quality jobs, and returns millions of dollars annually to county governments, school districts and rural landowners across Oklahoma. It also has a major environmental impact as an emission-free energy source that avoids over 6.4 million metric tons of CO2 emissions annually – the equivalent of removing over 1.1 million vehicles from Oklahoma’s highways and streets. In addition, wind energy consumes no water, saving over 2.2 billions of gallons per year in drought-stricken Oklahoma which compliments Oklahoma’s Water for 2060 Act passed by the legislature in 2012 and endorsed by Governor Fallin.
“As the legislative wind incentive debate continues, I urge Senate and House members to remember that wind energy is abundant, affordable, clean and reliable. Its cost is low and provides long-term price stability both for developers and consumers. Price stability is a major reason why three Oklahoma utilities – OG&E, GRDA and PSO – are utilizing wind energy to the tune of a collective consumer savings of over $1.75 billion.”
“Wind development is an extremely competitive industry, and just like competition for oil and gas, technology or any other industry development, Oklahoma must offer an attractive regulatory and economic environment. If it does not, wind developers will simply knock on the door of any number of wind-producing states offering attractive incentives. The Wind Coalition and our members are committed to working with state leaders to craft an equitable incentive package that keeps Oklahoma competitive while taking into account all governmental priorities.”
If you like dead birds, wind energy is great stuff. In California, windmills are called Condor Cuisinarts.
Lousy way to generate power and a lousier waste of money. I appreciate what Rep. Sears is doing, but I’d take the whole sorry pack of them off life support and let them fall to the ground – like the birds.
Castor, I agree. This is a foolish idea that should be abandoned. Killing of birds is an outrage, all for the sake of some stupid “green” program.
If wind energy is so good for the economy, why does it want – NO, DEMAND – so much tax-payer “incentive”?
Wind energy is a good idea and in the proper application, it is excellent. One might remember (or look it up in history books) that wind energy was the first electricity much of western Oklahoma had! It fell out of favor because it could not compete with other energy sources.
We incentivize the production of nuclear power, oil, gas, coal, solar, etc. Wind incentives are actually quite small compared to these others. And, wind is cheap, works well, is predictable, and keeps energy dollars working in rural communities. The alternative is the status quo which is to keep purchasing coal from federally owned mines in Wyoming (Powder River Basin).
Castor, you need a dose of reality. Wind kills fewer birds than other energy industries. Tall buildings kill more birds. Household cats are the worst offenders — by a large multiple. Get your facts right and quit spewing the anti-wind propaganda of billionaire Robson and cronies. If you don’t like the way wind turbines look, so be it; but spreading nonsense about bird kills/health effects/property values is demeaning to the process. Lying to the public to get your way is no way to win. The facts and the research don’t back you up.
Wind is abundant and with modern technology can be harvested to make clean cheap electricity for America.
One good thing about wind energy is that even when the wind dies down, you can rely on the hot air from its backers.