Renewable energy firm, NextEra, a company with wind farm operations throughout the state, was turned down this week in its effort to build a solar and battery storage operation near Enid. The Enid News and Eagle reports the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission voted to deny NextEra’s petition to use land southeast of Enid for …
Category: Solar Energy in Oklahoma
Consumers group opposes PSO’s $2.5 billion renewable energy plan
When Oklahoma Corporation Commissioners meet Tuesday, they will deal with at least two subjects that could prompt some compelling comments and discussion. One involves the $2.47 billion renewable energy plan proposed by Public Service Company of Oklahoma in which it is asking Commission approval of its cost recovery plan. The project involves PSO’s acquisition …
Report shows Oklahoma wind power grew in 2022 but solar power was another matter
A new national report on wind and solar power generated in the U.S. showed Oklahoma ranked second nationally for new wind power added in 2022, but its solar generation was stagnant. The report by Climate Central shows national wind and solar capacity grew 16% last year compared to 2021. Getting political about it, Climate Central …
Update on bill to restrict HOAs from banning residential solar panels
A bill in the Oklahoma legislature to end housing restrictions against residential solar panels is still alive. HB1023 by Ardmore Rep. Tammy Townley was assigned to the House Utilities Committee which has yet to consider the measure. As OK Energy Today reported earlier in February, Townley’s bill was fashioned after a bill passed in …
Solar and wind projects—waiting to join the grid
The development of more wind and solar power projects in the U.S. has been so great, there is a major obstacle for them….they can’t join the electric grids. More than 8,100 such projects waited for permission to connect to electric grids at the end of 2021 reported The New York Times. Click here for …
Solar power industry has fight on its hands in Arkansas legislature
A solar fight is underway before the Arkansas legislature and it involves attempts to reduce reimbursements for solar users. The cause of the fight is House Bill 1370, a measure with the goal “to prevent cost-shifting and ensure fairness to all ratepayers.” The authors say it would reduce compensation to solar users for the …
Electricity fight underway in Kansas legislature
A proposed bill in the Kansas legislature to allow churches and schools and hospitals to directly acquire electricity from solar arrays is being fought by at least four utilities, including the largest in the state, Evergy. Evergy, along with Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Wheatland Electric and Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative oppose the bill that would …
New Mexico makes another renewable energy move
New Mexico is closer to adopting a move to create a new state renewable energy office. The state’s House of Representatives voted last week to pass a bill to institutionalize renewable energy production at the New Mexico Land Office reported the Los Alamos Daily Post. Click here for Daily Post
Opposition grows to some renewable energy projects
As the federal government under the direction of the Biden administration encourages renewable energy growth across the U.S. it is also resulting in increased opposition to some of the projects. Fierce battles have broken out over solar and wind farms and carbon capture projects. It happened in Oklahoma years ago when wind farm …
Groups join forces to fight anti-solar bill in Arkansas
More than 90 Arkansas businesses, farm groups, cities and counties joined in their opposition to a legislative bill that would eliminate net metering for renewable energy. The organizations came out against newly filed HB 380 that they contend would raise electric bills and kill thousands of solar industry jobs reported the Arkansas Times. They …