Windfarm and solar farm setbacks, a hot topic in the last legislative session in Oklahoma will take center stage Monday when a state House interim study on the issue will be held at the capitol. A former state attorney general will be among those testifying.
Reps. Nick Archer (R-Elk City) and Jim Shaw (R-Stroud) will hold the hearing to explore the topic in a day of testimony from various groups. The hearing is a combination of two studies proposed by the legislators. Rep. Archer’s original study was a “Set back study on health safety.” Rep. Shaw’s study was headlined as “Industrial Wind and Solar.”
Starting at 9 a.m., the joint hearing will begin with comments from Alan Claus Anderson who will speak on Wind and Solar Setbacks.
Lisa Linowes of the WindAction Group will testify about Oklahoma wind and the impacts to reliability, environment and community.
She will be followed by JW Thompson, community advocate, researcher and author will address the topic of Solar: Whose Land, Whose Future.
Virginia Pflum, a landowner in Logan and Noble counties will adress Land Issues with wind energy leases.
A speaker scheduled at 10:50 a.m. is Saundra Traywick of Save Oklahoma Farms and Ranches plans to address “America’s Declaration of Independence from Green Tyranny.”
Former Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor, scheduled to speak at 11:10 a.m. will address “Local Voices Best Govern Local Land Use: Wind & Solar.”
The hearing, which could last most of the day was originally scheduled to include an afternoon devotion to Corporation Commission Oil and Gas Conservation Division Funding and Efficiencies and Oklahoma’s role in Critical Mineral Strategy.