Wind Turbine Neighbors Frustrate Lincoln County Residents

Emyli Creekmore
| Voice of Oklahoma

CHANDLER — A massive wind farm development facing local resistance in Lincoln County could lead to a push for legislative changes at the state Capitol.

As Enel Green Power continues to push forward with plans for the 15,000-acre Cedar Run Wind Project, frustrated residents are pushing back.

In recent months, they have ousted a powerful state lawmaker while erecting “No Wind Turbines” signs throughout the rural county that is home to about 35,000 residents, just east of Oklahoma City. Residents started a Facebook group that attracted more than 2,000 members as well as a website urging their neighbors to pressure elected leaders to pass stricter regulations on the industry.

“I never liked the idea of wind turbines, especially not in my county,” said Agra resident Jeannetta Stipe. “They are extremely noisy. I don’t want to hear them while I’m trying to go to bed at night.

Newly elected state Rep. Jim Shaw, of Chandler, said he believed resistance to wind development “was a big factor” in his victory in the Republican primary. Earlier this year, Shaw unseated incumbent Rep. Kevin Wallace, R-Wellston, to win the House seat in District 32, which includes Lincoln County.

Shaw said local concerns about Cedar Run prompted him to run for office and he plans to introduce legislation related to wind energy.

“I am still hammering out the details of what this legislation will look like, but I look forward to collaborating with like-minded legislators to introduce effective bills to achieve what our constituents desire,” he said. he declared.

Rapidly Growing Wind Industry Faces Obstacles in Oklahoma

The fight in Lincoln County is the latest dispute over wind development in the state.

The industry grew rapidly between 2010 and 2023, according to an analysis released in August by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. The report found that Oklahoma’s electricity generation increased 25 percent during that period, with almost all of that growth coming from wind power.

By 2023, Oklahoma was the third-largest wind energy producing state in the nation behind Texas and Iowa, according to the report.

Opponents have argued that wind installations devalue properties and cause nuisances. They have already pushed for additional regulations on the industry and urged lawmakers to end state tax incentives.

Critics of Lincoln County development want lawmakers to enact stronger protections for landowners who don’t want wind turbines nearby and ask the state attorney general to weigh in on whether counties can pass their own zoning restrictions through ballot initiatives.

Lincoln County project developer Enel did not respond to requests for comment.

But Jeff Clark, president and CEO of Advanced Power Alliance, said he is aware of the concerns. Enel is a member of the Clark Professional Association.

“I have been in this sector for over 13 years and have seen communities oppose the introduction of wind energy,” he said. “Usually they’ve been told a lot of things that aren’t true about the safety or impacts of wind turbines on the community. »

Clark said he owns a 53-acre farm in coastal San Patricio County, Texas, located in the middle of a wind farm. He said developers work very hard to find communities where wind projects will be most welcomed. Oklahoma is attractive because it has “legendary wind energy.”

Oklahoma lawmakers ended state tax incentives for newly erected wind farms, although some built and grandfathered projects could still receive some benefits, he said.

But he said the federal government still offers tax incentives to wind developers.

Clark thinks if people understood the benefits of wind energy, they would be more welcoming.

“I think once people understand how wind power is produced, they want wind power because it lowers their electricity bills and produces power without creating air or water dirty,” he said. “It also means the state’s economy is more diversified, allowing it to weather the ups and downs of other industries.

Supporters of these projects also note that they generate additional revenue for farmers, ranchers and other rural landowners, and increase the amount of taxes collected by counties.

But the question divides.

Brandon Wolff, a fifth-generation Lincoln County resident, said he believes landowners should have the right to choose whether or not they want the developments.

“Every situation and circumstance is different for everyone,” Wolff said. “If you don’t want your neighbor to sell or rent their land, buy it. If you can’t afford it, do it. Nothing should be created to prevent us from letting others decide the rights to our land.

Editor’s note: This story was produced through a reporting partnership between Oklahoma Voice and the University of Central Oklahoma journalism program. Voice of Oklahoma is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oklahoma Voice maintains its editorial independence. Contact editor Janelle Stecklein with any questions: [email protected]. Follow Oklahoma Voice on Facebook And Twitter.