With Woodward County Commissioners campaigning against the project, the Oklahoma Land Commission voted 2-1 to kill a possible wind farm on school land in Woodward County.
The Land Commission is comprised of Gov. Kevin Stitt, Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell, Byrd, Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters and the President of the Board of Agriculture Blayne Arthur but at Monday’s meeting at the state capitol, Byrd and Walters were absent. So that left the decision up to the three remaining commissioners.
Woodward County Commissioners, who just learned last week of the project, traveled to the capitol to voice their opposition.
Gov. Stitt voted for the proposed wind farm but Lt. Gov. Pinnell and Ag Sec. Arthur voted against it.
As the Woodward News reported, Woodward County Commissioner Troy White made it clear he and his fellow commissioners did not oppose renewable energy investment in the county.
“However, we believe school land should remain as pure and unmolested as possible. Many cattlemen rely on school land in their grazing operations and it also serves for hunting and recreation, which brings many dollars from out of state into our county.”
He added “We oppose the state taking revenue away from private landowners and tax payers in the form of wind leases,” he added. “We believe that our tax payers will reinvest the money back into the communities where they’ve lived and raised their families for generations much better than the government would.”
The state proposal involved 1,790 acres and a proposed state contract for a 55-year wind power ground lease was won by Daily Mill Wind LLC, a subsidiary of Triple Oak Power of Portland, Oregon.