Public Service Company of Oklahoma announces preliminary line route for Wind Catcher Energy Connection project
Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) announced Wednesday the power line route for the Wind Catcher Energy Connection project with the exception of three portions that the company will seek further public input on before finalizing.
The route will run approximately 360 miles and follows a more northerly route among the line courses considered.
The $4.5 billion Wind Catcher Energy Connection project, a joint initiative between PSO and Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO), will deliver wind energy from the western panhandle of Oklahoma and to customers in eastern and southwestern Oklahoma as well as parts of Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana.
PSO held 11 open houses across northern Oklahoma in the fall to receive public input on the line route. Approximately 900 people attended the events. The company also collected comments through the Wind Catcher website, direct mail, email, and phone calls.
“At PSO we are committed to working with landowners and the community to bring the benefits of Wind Catcher to customers,” John Harper, PSO’s vice president of external affairs, said. “In addition to bringing customers some of the lowest-cost power available, the communities along the line route will see approximately $300 million in additional property taxes over the next 25 years.”
The company will hold three open houses this month to obtain feedback on the three portions of the route needing additional study.
The Wind Catcher project is expected to be in operation by the end of 2020.
