Petition to control turbines awaiting decision by ADA
District 3 County Commissioner Bobby Ziegler shared a message sent to him by Chad Macy, a representative of the TransAlta Canadian River Project.
The corporation withdrew from the project more than a week ago.
The “termination notice” to Ziegler stated: “Thank you for taking my call last week. As discussed, TransAlta has made the difficult decision to terminate the Canadian River Wind Project, effective immediately. This decision follows a comprehensive review of interconnection challenges, evolving market conditions and challenges with land acquisition.
“We deeply appreciate the support and engagement of the project landowners and community members who have been part of this journey. TransAlta is committed to working closely with these groups to address concerns and ensure their needs are thoughtfully considered as development activities wind down.
“Thank you, Chad Macy, TransAlta Canadian River Wind Project.”
While the project may be dead for now, there is concern that it could be resurrected in the future by other wind turbine companies.
The commissioners passed a resolution at its Monday, Jan. 27, meeting asking the state legislature to bring the wind industry under a state regulatory agency.
Apparently, as of now, the wind turbine agency is not regulated by the state.
The resolution states that, according to Assistant District Attorney Greg Stidham, granted any agency the power to regulate the wind industry, “thus leaving the citizens of the state without recourse for planned wind development.
“No other industry in the state enjoys such unrestricted and unfettered decision making without some state agency ensuring the property rights of Oklahomans is protected.”
The resolution calls for the legislature to take immediate action.
However, the resolution is not the only action being taken in an effort to stop wind turbines from being erected in McIntosh County.
A citizen’s committee, headed by Tim Stacey of Hanna, has filed an initiative petition in district court asking for a vote by McIntosh County residents on whether to allow wind turbines in the county.
As of Monday’s commissioners’ meeting, the petition was in limbo as County Clerk Deena Farrow awaits advice from Stidham as to the procedure to take from this point forward.
Ultimately, the county will have to submit a legal publication about the petition to the newspaper and opponents will have a 10-day period in which they can protest.
“The delay is more a question of procedure than anything,” Farrow said.
A local landowner who had an agreement with TransAlta for wind turbines on his property said the county would lose millions in tax dollars generated by the turbines.
According to the County Assessor’s office, each windmill could possibly, but not necessarily, average $42,000 per wind turbine. Multiply that figure by 121 turbines and the sum is around $5 million annually.
Schools would get about 85 percent of that amount with the rest shared by the county with libraries and the health department.
