Two Oklahoma legislators have warned Oklahoma wind farm operator TransAlta –a wind farm it might build in McIntosh County is not wanted and they intend to fight it.
They are the latest to come out against the wind farm after a Native American tribe did the same in November.
Reps. Neil Hays of Checotah
and Tim Turner of Kinta
declared their opposition at a recent meeting with representatives of TransAlta.
“Durng the meeting, we made it clear that there is really no pathway for their project to gain community-wide support,” the two representatives explained. “We also informed TransAlta of our plans to introduce legislation this session which would change their current feasibility studies and prevent this project from moving forward in our House districts.”
TransAlta owns and operates the White Rock East and the White Rock West wind farms in Caddo County near Anadarko in southwest Oklahoma. The 51 turbines in White Rock West became operational this year with a 300 MW capacity.
The company recently faced opposition from the Muscogee (Creek) Nation for the farm proposed near Eufaula.
The two legislators had requested the meeting and in a recent press release, explained they listened to the company officials address issues concerning their wind turbine project in McIntosh County and the company reported it was meeting the current statutory requirements imposed by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.
“Furthermore, we emphasized the impact of these turbines go far beyong the aesthetics, and as elected representatives, we are carrying the voice of our constituents. We are working tirelessly to protect the interests of our communities, and there is no support for wind turbines in McIntosh County.”
According to Reps Hays and Turner, the company representatives also said they were in the “very early stages” of the project as environmental and economic feasiblity studies were still being completed. The project is reportedly to be more than two to three years away from beginning construction.
TransAlta owns, operates and develops a fleet of electrical generation assets in Canada, the U.S. and Australia. Its website included a statement about what it anticipates.
“We believe the current decade will be one of massive clean energy expansion and we are excited about the role that TransAlta will play. We have a proven track record along with the expertise and experience to meet the challenge.”
The company website describes itself as “one of North America’s leading wind energy generators” with 27 wind and battery storage facilities in operation.
