Public Service Company of Oklahoma to boost wind energy production

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) gave the green light to the Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) to boost its wind energy production by 675 megawatts (MW).

The plan calls for PSO to own a share of three Oklahoma wind farms, called the North Central Energy Facilities.

“Approval of this agreement will allow our customers to have their energy needs met with affordable, Oklahoma wind energy and will add significant investment in our state,” PSO President and COO Peggy Simmons said. “We are grateful to all the parties whose willingness to collaborate led to the settlement and to the Commission for their approval of the agreement.”

The three wind farms will generate 1,485 MW of power. They are to be located in portions of seven counties in north central Oklahoma – Alfalfa, Blaine, Custer, Garfield, Kingfisher, Major, and Woods.

PSO’s 45.5 percent ownership share of the combined North Central Energy Facilities project is projected to save customers more than $1 billion during the time the wind farms are in service.

PSO is partnering on the project with Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO). Regulatory approval is pending for SWEPCO.

PSO, a unit of American Electric Power, serves more than 554,000 customers in eastern and southwestern Oklahoma.