Opponents of wind turbines have been sounding the alarm for weeks, warning of the potential dangers of 121 turbines proposed to be built in western McIntosh County, near Lenah and Hanna.
Saundra Traywick, who lives near Luther in far Northeastern Oklahoma County, has traveled the state pointing out the impact she says the turbines have on the environment, water, livestock, wildlife, humans and property values.
District 13 State Rep. Neil Hays, R-Checotah, pointed out another problem that may be created by turbines, one that had not been mentioned publicly until last week but one that has the potential of affecting everyone who has insurance, not just people who live close to the turbines.
“Your insurance rates will go up,” Hays told a gathering of more than 200 people at the VFW hall on Thursday, Nov. 21, who were there at the invitation of the Mc-Intosh County GOP.
It was a regular monthly GOP meeting, but the general public was invited to hear a number of speakers talk about the proposed wind turbines, which could eventually number 900 and be seen around the lake as well as the county.
Hays had an insurance company before he turned to politics and won office in 2022.
“Here’s what’s happening right now on the insurance front,” he said. “About 1/3 of the insurance companies out there, if you have a wind turbine on your property they will not insure you, period. Another 1/3, if you have a wind turbine on your property, they will not insure you for any liability claim at all. They may insure you for damage to your property, but no liability at all. If a blade flies off and hits someone else’s house it’s up to you. Another 1/3 of them have made up their mind they will still offer liability, but the trend is going to no liability coverage.”
According to Hays, Oklahoma has the highest insurance premiums in the nation. “We are number one. Auto insurance has gone up 55 percent in the last three years,” he said.
Some insurance companies have actually left the state.
“If you have a wind turbine on your property, the way they’re going the rate for you you’re going to pay through the roof for that (liability) exposure. Nobody likes their insurance rates now, they’re not going to get any better with that liability exposure.
“Having said that, most people who have wind turbines on their property are not worried about their own property, just their liability.
“But everyone who lives around them, the insurance company is going to rate you, your property and your location,” Hays said.
Oklahoma’s propensity for tornadoes impacts the ratings of everyone.
Now, turbines also will impact everyone’s rates.
“Even if you don’t have one on your property more than likely if they start to build them around you your rating is going to put you at a higher risk category, therefore more than likely you will face higher premiums,” he said.
Hays explained that insurance companies “want to off-load risk.”
If your property is at risk from distant turbines, your rates will go up if the insurance company doesn’t leave the state.
“Insurance companies are going to mitigate the risk and ship it out or shut it down and go someplace else that is profitable. If they can’t raise your rates so that they think it’s a good investment for them to be here, they’re going to leave. They’re in it to make money.”
