OKLAHOMA TO GROW WIND

The importance of this news: Serious builders of wind energy undertake the building of new transmission to get the power generated from where the wind blows to population centers where people need electricity. Transmission is in Oklahoma’s plans. As it is in the plans of Texas and South Dakota.

OG&E Looks to Quadruple Wind Power Production; Company plans to make western Oklahoma a national wind leader
October 30, 2007 (OGE Energy Corp/PR Newswire via Yahoo Finance)

WHO
OGE Energy Corp. (Pete Delaney, President/CEO), Oklahoma Gas & Electric (OG&E)

Oklahoma has lots of wind, especially in the west and in the panhandle. (click to enlarge)

WHAT
OGE will undertake financing and construction of a major transmission project in anticipation of expanding Oklahoma wind energy capacity from 170 megawatts to 770 megawatts.

WHEN
The transmission project and wind capacity expansion is planned to take the next 4 years.

WHERE
The new transmission will run from Oklahoma city to Woodward and eventually to Guymon, allowing wind generated electricity to be transmitted from western and northwestern Oklahoma to the rest of the state and other OG&E customers such as those in western Arkansas.

The big players have been at work in the state for some years now. (click to enlarge)

WHY
- The wind energy capacity expansion could move Oklahoma to 3rd in the US behind Texas and California.
- OG&E will also give customers an opportunity to choose electricity from renewable sources. The news report does not say so but implies the wind energy-generated electricity is likely to cost more.
- OG&E: 762,000 customers over 30,000 square miles of Oklahoma/western Arkansas

A site in the southwest was tested extensively. The conclusion: Build the turbines and the transmission! (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
- Delaney, on the demand for wind: "The significant amount of wind in western Oklahoma is a largely untapped resource that is in increasing demand in Oklahoma and across the nation…We have been working on plans for some time now to significantly increase OG&E's wind power production over the next four years."
- Delaney, on building transmission: "OG&E stands ready to build these lines and we are preparing to begin the Oklahoma City-Woodward line shortly after the first of the year…But it will require the approval of the regional transmission authority and the support of our elected officials to become a reality."
- Delaney, on providing customers the choice of renewable sources at adjusted rates: "This is an idea we are still working on but we know from our existing wind power program that many of our customers are interested in using power generated from renewable sources…"