3 NEW WIND FARMS COMING TO NORTH WEST OKLAHOMA, INCLUDING WEST OF HENNESSEY.
The proposed North Central Energy Facilities will include three wind energy centers in the North West part of the state – the Sundance Wind Energy Center, Maverick Wind Energy Center and Traverse Wind Energy Center. Public Services Company of Oklahoma (PSO) and Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) have been working to gain all regulatory approvals to purchase the project upon completion, but Invenergy will develop, construct and operate the project for 10 years. These projects will provide a combined total of 1,485 megawatts of sustainable energy, which is enough to power nearly 450,000 American homes. The three projects are projected to pay a cumulative total of approximately $680 million in ad valorem taxes over their 30-year operational life, with $450 million of those forecasted to go directly to local school districts. Additionally, this represents a $1.8 billion investment in their areas of operation, hundreds of jobs during construction and more than 40 full-time operations and maintenance jobs once they are online.
The Traverse Wind Energy Center is a proposed 999 megawatt wind power facility in Blaine and Custer Counties. This project will include a $1.2 billion capital investment, 200-300 jobs supported during construction and 32 full-time operations and maintenance staff once it is online.
The Maverick Wind Energy Center is a proposed 288 megawatt wind power facility in Garfield, Major and Kingfisher Counties. This project will include a $402 million capital investment, 150 jobs supported during construction and nine full-time operations and maintenance staff once it is online.
The Sundance Wind Energy Center is a proposed 199 megawatt wind power facility in Woods, Major and Alfalfa Counties. This project will include a $307 million capital investment, 150 jobs supported during construction and six full-time operations and maintenance staff once it is online.
Construction of all three projects is ready to begin once regulatory approvals are achieved. The Sundance Wind Energy Center is targeted to begin operations in late 2020, while the Maverick Wind Energy Center and Traverse Wind Energy Center are both targeted to begin operations in late 2021.