Oklahoma Corporation Commissioners meet Monday to take another look at PSO’s proposed energy center to be built on the Fort Sill post—one that is opposed by two of the commissioners who expressed doubts about the cost to be borne by PSO consumers.
The issue on Monday’s agenda for the 1:30 p.m. meeting. Commissioner Bob Anthony is the lone outright supporter of the $118 million center which would be built to allow Fort Sill, in the event of an emergency, to have at least 14 straight days of promised electrical power.
Commission Chairman Todd Hiett and Commissioner Dana Murphy have voiced questions about the handling of the costs and both stated their support for the military. Murphy indicated last week that she was reworking the proposed PSO order to make it more acceptable for her and stated she might have it ready for Monday’s meeting.
At issue is an application by PSO for approval of the cost recovery of the project. Fort Sill indicated that the Department of Defense would offer at least $10 million for the project that would include the generation of electricity from solar and fossil-fuel powered generators.
The facility would be constructed, if approved, on the post and security would be offered by the military. Power from the facility would be shared systemwide for PSO consumers.
The commission’s Public Utility Division opposed the project. So did an Administrative Law Judge. The Attorney General’s office initially was against the project but last week refiled a motion and came out in support of the project.
Commissioner Anthony, a veteran of the Army expressed initial support for the project saying it should be approved in the interest of national security. He also pointed out the post is obviously important to the Defense Department because it located two combat training centers at Fort Sill. One is the Artillery school and the other is the Air Defense Artillery school. Air Defense had previously been located at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas.