Two Oklahoma legislators have warned Oklahoma wind farm operator TransAlta that a wind farm it proposes to build in McIntosh County is not wanted and they intend to fight it.
Reps. Neil Hays (R-Checotah) and Tim Turner (R-Kinta) are the latest to come out against the wind farm; a Native American tribe did the same in November.
Turner and Hays declared their opposition at a recent meeting with representatives of TransAlta.
“During the meeting, we made it clear that there is really no pathway for their project to gain communitywide support,” the two lawmakers said. “We also informed TransAlta of our plans to introduce legislation this session which would change their current feasibility studies and prevent this project from moving forward in our House districts.”
TransAlta owns and operates theWhite Rock East and theWhite Rock West wind farms in Caddo County near Anadarko in southwest Oklahoma. The 51 turbines in White Rock West became operational this year with a 300-megawatt capacity.
The company recently faced opposition from the Muscogee (Creek) Nation for the farm proposed near Eufaula.
The two legislators requested the meeting, and in a recent press release they said they listened to company officials address issues concerning their wind farm project. The company reported it was meeting current statutory requirements imposed by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.
“Furthermore, we emphasized the impact of these turbines go far beyond the aesthetics, and as elected Representatives we are carrying the voice of our constituents. There is no support for wind turbines in McIntosh County.”
TransAlta owns, operates and develops a fleet of electrical generation assets in Canada, the U.S. and Australia. Its website included a statement about what it anticipates.
“We believe the current decade will be one of massive clean energy expansion and we are excited about the role that TransAlta will play. We have a proven track record along with the expertise and experience to meet the challenge.”