When NextEra Energy started work on its 2,000-acre Skeleton Creek solar farm near Enid, it attempted through negotiations to lower its $2.5 million construction permit fee.
The company wanted to pay $15,000 but eventually, with enforcement from the State Attorney General’s office, and eventually, through negotiations, managed to pay only $500,000.
An investigation by Investigate Midwest discovered the findings through the use of the Oklahoma Open Records law in which it received records showing how NextEra was able to avoid the $2.5 million construction fee.
Investigate Midwest reported how Christopher Banks, project manager for the Skeleton Creek Energy Center explained the company deserved a major discount.
“Although we still have questions about the necessity of a building permit for solar arrays, we are agreeable to pay a fee in this case for the sake of expediency,” Banks wrote to the Oklahoma state fire marshal, who manages the fee, in a May 22, 2025, email, obtained by Investigate Midwest through an open records request. “Skeleton Creek hereby proposes a fee of $15,000.00.”
It took the state attorney general’s office to get involved before the AG said NextEra should accept the revised proposal of the State Fire Marshal’s office. The talks ended in November, when NextEra agreed to pay the reduced fee of $500,000.
Skeleton Creek faced opposition from residents when work began and is part of NextEra Energy Resources $7.6 billion investment in Oklahoma since 2003. It is among the company’s other 18 renewable energy projects. The project also includes a 252-megawatt 4-hour battery energy storage system.
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