Oklahoma Ranks Third Nationally in Wind Power

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Oklahoma now ranks third nationally in terms of electricity produced by wind power, according to the latest report from the American Wind Energy Association.

Oklahoma moved past California to become the third-ranked state in the nation with more than 6,600 MW of installed capacity. Texas is number one followed by Iowa. California is now ranked 4th followed by Kansas, Illinois, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington and Colorado to round out the top ten wind-producing states.

The Association reported that 19 states commissioned a total of 47 projects during the fourth quarter of 2016. Texas had the most with 1,790 MW installed followed by Oklahoma at 1,192 MW. Kansas came next with 615 MW followed by North Dakota and Iowa.

But Texas continues leading the nation with 20,321 MW of installed capacity and is also the first state to pass 20,000 MW.

The Association listed completion of 9 wind projects in Oklahoma in 2016. They include the Grant Wind farm which will supply power to Western Farmers Electric Cooperative; Kingfisher Wind which has a Merchant Hedge contract; Bluestem which supplies power to Google Energy; and Chisholm View II which produces electricity for Arkansas Electric Power Cooperative.

Others are Drift Sand which supplies electricity to Arkansas Electric Power Cooperative; Frontier I, a supplier of power to the City Utilities of Springfield, Missouri; Grant Plains which sells electricity to Allianz Risk Transfer, Steelcase and Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority; Great Western, another supplier for Google Energy and Rush Springs Wind Energy Center, supplier for Equinix and Owens Corning.