2017 Arcadia wind farm project gaining new attention

A Southwest Power Pool study, launched in 2017, is circulating on social media among opponents of wind energy.

The study examines interconnection capabilities for a proposed wind farm north of Arcadia and, specifically, any upgrades needed for the transmission infrastructure that would connect the project to the power grid. According to an SPP spokesperson, the wind farm expects to go into commercial operation at the end of 2028.

OG&E owns the transmission infrastructure in the area which was inspected through the course of the study. The study, published in 2023, estimated it would cost roughly $13.5 million to make necessary transmission upgrades to accommodate a wind farm project.

An OG&E spokesperson clarified that the company has no direct responsibility or ownership of the wind farm project.

"This is not an OG&E project, but if it were completed, it would connect to the electric grid through OG&E infrastructure," the spokesperson said. "OG&E is required by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to allow connection to our facilities to third-party renewable developers."

Republican State Representative Preston Stinson represents District 96, where the project is set to be located.

"I don’t have any knowledge of any projects actually planned for construction," he said. "I know there were some preliminary plans filed several years ago, but I suspect that the nature of the area has changed since then in such a way as to make that project infeasible. As far as I know, there are no actual projects in the works at this time."

The state legislature has been busy on the overall topic. More than a dozen bills were filed this session relating to wind energy, with many overlapping in nature. House Bill 2751 recently passed out of the House Utilities Committee, which, among other changes, would require turbines "not be located any closer than a distance of two and one-half (2 1/2) times the tip height of the tower or one-quarter (1/4) of one (1) mile, whichever distance is the greater" to the nearest house or property line.

Rep. Jim Shaw (R-OK32), who represents nearby District 32, has taken a keen interest in the state's wind energy regulations and now is paying extra scrutiny to the Arcadia wind farm proposal.

"I am vehemently against the industrial wind and solar community," he said. "I don't believe it's good for our communities and for our state. And so I definitely took an interest. I got family in the Arcadia area. And that's what started the discussion for me."

Shaw's scrutiny follows the recent collapse of a wind turbine in Kay County.

"At the end of the day, we absolutely should be more transparent with people, of the state of Oklahoma, when these projects are being proposed," he said.

The Arcadia project is seemingly far from reality. While an interconnection study was completed, several other public agencies must also be involved in the process. That includes getting approval from the FAA and the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission.

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission must also be sent notice of intent to build, which the agency said has not happened with this project area.

An OCC spokesperson outlined the steps for pushing a project forward, which they said include:

1. "Owner files 7460-1 forms with the FAA (Day 1)
2. Within 30 days of filing with FAA, the wind facility owner submits copies of FAA filings to the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission
3. Within six months of filing with FAA, the wind facility owner submits a Notice of Intent to build a wind facility to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission which includes copies of FAA filings, an attestation of compliance with the provisions of 17 O.S. § 160.20(A), and a map of the project boundary.
4. Within 24 hours of submission to the Commission, notice must be sent to county commissioners in every county that the facility is to be a part of
5. Within 6 months of Commission notice, notification of the intent to construct must be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county(ies) the facility is to be a part of
6. Within 60 days of the newspaper publication the facility owner must hold a public meeting. Notice of the public meeting must be published and sent to county commissioners
7. Once all requirements have been met, the facility must provide a 60 day notice to commence construction to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission
8. Construction cannot commence until ALL steps and notices have been properly completed"

None of the agencies that News 9 received comments from could share the name of the company that initiated the original request for an interconnection study.