North Central Traverse Wind Farm 2021
The biggest environmental story in Oklahoma this year? Public Service Company of Oklahoma is making the case for its Traverse wind farm which opened this year.
With the approach of Earth Day, PSO says the three-wind farm project, the largest wind farm built at one time in North America will help the company move its energy mix from 70% fossil fuels to 70% renewable energy by 2031.
PSO says its environmental record is green and getting greener.
On March 21, PSO, the Oklahoma operating company of American Electric Power (AEP), began receiving power from the Traverse wind farm in Blaine and Custer County. With 356
turbines, Traverse is the largest wind farm built at one time in North America.
Traverse is the third, largest and final portion of the 1,484-megawatt North Central Energy Facilities, which uses Oklahoma wind to serve Oklahoma customers. NCEF facilities will generate enough energy to power 440,000 homes. With no fuel costs, they will save PSO customers about $1 billion over their 30-year lifetime.
North Central Traverse Wind Farm 2021
“Traverse is our latest environmental success story, and we’re proud of it, but it’s not our only one,” said PSO President and Chief Operating Office Peggy Simmons. “From wind farms to electric vehicle charging stations to energy efficiency programs that save customers money and reduce the use of fossil fuels, we are proud of our environmental achievements.”
“AEP has pledged to achieve net zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050 and to reduce emissions 80% from 2000 levels by 2030,” Simmons said. “NCEF and other potential PSO wind and solar plans are a major part of achieving that promise.”
In January 2021, the Sierra Club rated PSO No. 1 among 79 major electrical utility on progress toward becoming 100% clean renewable electricity providers.
The company noted it is actively engaged in a Request for Proposal process for up to an additional 2,800 MW of wind power and up to 1,350 MW of solar energy resources.
Source: PSO
