Oklahoma Corporation Commission to Consider New Rules for Wind Industry

• Joe Wertz
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  Joe Wertz was a reporter and managing editor for StateImpact Oklahoma from 2011-2019. He reported on energy and environment issues for national NPR audiences and other national outlets. He previously worked as a managing editor, assistant editor and staff reporter at several major Oklahoma newspapers and studied journalism at the University of Central Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission will consider rules for the wind industry that outline proper procedures for landowner notification and turbine decommissioning, according to an order singed Tuesday.

The commission’s order follows a trio of meetings held at the request of Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa. During the meetings, commission staff identified notification and decommissioning as major categories for wind industry oversight. However, the commission’s upcoming rule-making process won’t address the most controversial issue discussed at the meetings: wind farm siting.

But Oklahoma lawmakers have already pledged to write bills that could bring further oversight to the wind industry, including, possibly, siting rules and an examination of industry tax credits.