| Wind energy generated in the Oklahoma Panhandle means a windfall for Okmulgee County. Clean Line Energy is going to be running a 700-mile-long power line to deliver electricity generated by wind turbines and part of that will snake through the county. That will result in $1 million worth of annual ad valorem taxes paid to Okmulgee County as well as a $205,000 one-time payment. |
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| Between 70 to 75 percent of the ad valorem taxes will be going to the schools. Mario Hurtado, executive vice-president of development, explained the power line will send the electricity to Memphis and Little Rock. "Our goal is to provide 4,000 megawatts. That is enough energy to power over 1 million homes," he said. Hurtado said the project will expend over $1 billion providing ""jobs and incomes to communities along the transmission line." The project is expected to take some two to three years to build and will be using some 600 people. Actual construction is expected to start in 2017 with the project going online by the end of 2020.  During the construction, Hurtado said local businesses will be given an opportunity to be suppliers. "We want to work with local business and contractors. We have done some outreach through job fairs and businesses are welcome to register with us through our website," he added. That website is: http://www.plainsandeasterncleanline.com/site/page/submit-your-business-info.More job fairs will be held in the coming months. In 2011 the Oklahoma Corporation Commission gave approval for the project and Clean Line is in the final stages of getting all of the paperwork approved by the U.S. Department of Energy. "In December, we got the final environmental impact statement and got the preferred route." The Okmulgee County routing is expected to be north of Beggs, bypassing Twin Hills. He said wind energy in the Panhandle is still in its infancy. "We are producing some 300 megawatts now. Only three years ago nothing was being produced." He explained the problem is there were no transmission lines able to send the power into a national grid. One line has been built and this will be adding another line. Statewide some 4,300 megawatts of wind energy is being produced. The Clean Line project will double the electrical supply. Along the line, landowners will be contacted to get easements. "We realize that people feel their land is their legacy and it is important to them. We try to respect that." Hertado said the company works with landowners to get the best location for the power line to co-exist with the land usage. Property owners who have the actual wind turbines on their property are given an option. They can receive a one time payment or annual checks. "A lot of landowners want to create future revenue for their families. We respect that." During the process, Clean Line officials will be meeting with county commissioners along the route keeping them updated as to the work. "We wanted to make sure the counties are paid for the work they have to do to help us. We work with the commissioners on the impact to the roads. Once constructed, the line will be connected to other lines feeding electricity throughout the south and Tennessee Valley area. "The advantage of connecting with the Tennessee Valley Authority is their strong transmission grid. When you connect to them, you have a way to get to seven other states." In a time when alternative fuel sources are being examined, the Rogers and Hammerstein song lyrics about wind blowing across the plains is putting money in the bank. |
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