** A federal judge rules that the Dakota Access pipeline can continue operating during an updated environmental review. Attention now turns to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as it completes the court-ordered environmental impact statement. ** The world’s largest microchip maker is buying tanker trucks full of water to keep its plant going as farmers struggle to make ends meet …
Category: Solar Energy in Oklahoma
Iowa pushes to be known for solar power industry
While Iowa might have a reputation of a strong wind energy industry, two solar energy groups recently joined efforts and proclaimed the state very well could be known for its solar energy as well. KWWL in Iowa has a report. Click here.
California and its rolling blackouts
State leaders in California say they’re better prepared to avoid the rotating and tolling electrical blackouts the state experienced last year—blackouts criticized by Oklahoma congressman Markwayne Mullin. In an interview last fall with OK Energy Today in which he warned of the extreme anti-fossil fuel steps that would be taken under a Biden presidency, …
SE Missouri to be site of 2,000 acre solar farm
In the far southeast corner of Missouri, work is underway for development of a $175 million solar farm that will take up 2,000 acres of land. Final approval is being sought for the Kelso Solar Project to be located near Benton. The Southeast Missourian reported the farm is a joint venture of Arevon, an …
Minnesota family-owned company will build one-third of U.S. wind projects this year
A family-owned wind power construction company located in Avon, Minnesota expects to build nearly one-third of all the wind projects in the U.S. including some in Oklahoma. Blattner Energy, formerly D.H. Blattner & Son’s Co. has more than 450 wind and solar projects to its name and built several of the wind farms in …
OGE’s Arkansas customers to get solar power
The first solar farm being built by Oklahoma Gas & Electric in Arkansas is expected to be in operation by the end of the year. Located near Branch, a community just east of Fort Smith, the 5-megawatt farm will sit on 40 acres. Once the farm becomes operational, any Arkansas customer of OGE will …
Two solar farms coming to Southeast Kansas
Work is underway on the construction of two solar farms near Girard in Southeast Kansas and once they’re up and running, they will provided enough electrical power for 80,000 homes. KSN reported that Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative partnered with the Greenbush Education Service Center and Today’s Power Incorporated to help give renewable energy …
Giant solar operation sits next to Permian Basin’s oil and gas ops
West Texas isn’t home to just the massive Permian Basin oilfields but now is the site of a 3,600 solar operation that will help meet the growing demand for electricity in that part of the state. Orsted announced completion of its Permian Energy Center project, a 460 MWAC hybrid solar and battery storage facility …
Report shows solar industry growth in Oklahoma
A new national report shows the U.S. solar industry’s employment dropped 6.7% from 2019 to 2020 while Oklahoma saw growth since 2012. The Solar Energy Industry Association said total U.S. solar industry employment was 231,4747 workers in 2019 but the employment also declined across all labor categories and in most states. The SEIA said …
Enel Green Power builds 11th Oklahoma wind farm
Renewable energy producer Enel Green Power has launched construction on another new wind farm in southcentral Oklahoma—its 11th wind project in the state. The company announced the 140 MW Rockhaven wind project is being built in Garvin and Carter Counties and is adjacent to the Origin wind farm which Enel has operated since 2015. …