The decision on the Wind Catcher Wind Farm Project was taken out of the hands of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission by the Public Utility Commission of Texas. Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) announced Thursday it was giving up the $4.5 billion dollar project due to the Texas commission’s July 26 denial of the project’s application in that state. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission was set to consider the company’s application soon.
“We are disappointed with the decision in Texas that resulted in the cancelation of the project. Wind Catcher represented an extraordinary opportunity to provide our customers with low cost, clean Oklahoma energy and create a positive economic impact across the state,” said Steven Fate, PSO Vice President of Regulatory and Finance. “We remain committed to finding new solutions that add value for our customers. All of us at PSO deeply appreciate our partners and supporters for their commitment to the project.”
Americans for Prosperity – Oklahoma was a vocal opponent of the Wind Catcher project.
“We welcome today’s news that American Electric Power and Public Service Company have decided to pull the plug on the controversial Wind Catcher project. The project was a boondoggle from the beginning. Several key officials rightfully expressed concern for the process and the lack of communication as the project progressed. Thousands of activists and landowners from across Oklahoma spoke out against this project. Whether because of the cost, the impact to their property or the future impact to ratepayers, they were vocal in opposition to the project and their efforts were invaluable to help kill the project,” said AFP – Oklahoma in a statement after PSO’s cancellation of the wind farm meant to provide power across several states.
However, not everyone was happy with the news. Representative David Perryman supported the Wind Catcher project.
“Oklahoma citizens and utility customers across the southwestern U.S. are the losers with the cancellation of this project,” said Perryman, who is minority floor leader in the Oklahoma House. “The infrastructure, including all machine heads and hubs were to be manufactured in the U.S., and additional components would be manufactured in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas.”
“The 2.5 megawatt turbines were designed to enhance siting efficiency, offer industry-leading reliability and allow for higher energy production,” Perryman said. “The project had been previously approved by regulatory agencies in Arkansas and Louisiana with Oklahoma and Texas dragging their feet. The $300 million in Oklahoma property taxes that this project would have generated, the $65 million in state and local revenue, the 4,400 indirect jobs during construction and 80 permanent jobs once it went online will be hard to replace, but the greatest impact of this project’s cancellation will be consumers losing $7 billion in utility rate savings over the next 25 years. I’m incredibly disappointed with this lost opportunity to further diversify Oklahoma’s economy and bring much needed revenue to our state.”
The arguments for are smoke and mirrors. Too bad the corporation commissioners didn’t have a recorded vote on the subject…that would have been instructive!!
Thank goodness our friends the Texans took a stand on this. Finally the Dead Bird Admiration Society has been stopped. I’m not surprised that a Democrat like Perryman supported this lousy idea, but it is dispiriting that some Republicans like Roger Thompson did too.