Hinton wind farm impasse continues

OKLAHOMA CITY – Attorney General Mike Hunter today announced the deadline has been extended for energy company NextEra and the Department of Defense (DOD) to reach a mitigation plan for a wind farm to be built on land the military says it uses for training.

Construction on the wind farm near Hinton was stopped last month after NextEra and the Oklahoma Strategic Military Planning Commission (OSMPC) agreed to work on a mitigation plan with the DOD to resolve the issue.

The company submitted its original plans for the Hinton project in 2016, and those plans were approved by the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) as presenting 'no hazard' to aviation.

However NextEra didn't build to those plans. Instead revised plans were submitted to the FAA in March of this year. Those resubmitted plans have yet to be given a 'no hazard' designation but in summer the company began to erect those turbines anyway. Construction was halted October 2nd.

Today’s announcement is the fourth time the deadline to reach an agreement has been postponed. The original deadline was October 15th. The new deadline is now next Monday, November 12th.

The OSMPC contends the wind farm violates a recent amendment to the Wind Energy Development Act.

“The OSMPC and Attorney General Hunter are committed to doing what is necessary to ensure a positive outcome in this matter, while safeguarding the airspace used to train members of the Armed Forces,” said OSMPC President Michael Cooper. “The airspace used for training is one of the military’s most vital assets. Disrupting it in any way threatens to weaken our national defense.”

The law currently requires a determination by the federal government that planned wind turbine construction has no military impact, or the company must have an approved mitigation plan from the DOD, before a wind farm is constructed or expanded.

In a statement released when construction was first halted John DiDonato, NextEra’s Vice President of Renewable Development and Origination said, “We are dedicated to working with all stakeholders, community and state leaders when investing in energy infrastructure within states like Oklahoma. We are confident this process will strengthen our line of communication, leading to a better future for the partnership between the state and NextEra.”

NextEra, together with its affiliated entities, is the world's largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun and employs close to 14,000 staff across the country.

NextEra were approached for comment regarding the continuing standoff and new deadline but thus far have declined to respond.

Attorney General Hunter is representing the OSMPC in the negotiations.