Project at a Glance
Location: Roger Mills and Custer counties, near Elk City, OK
Collaborators: Mortensen Construction, White Construction, ACCIONA Windpower
Completion date: March 2009
Wind power: 123 MW capacity, using 82 ACCIONA Windpower 1.5 MW wind turbine generators
Projected CO2 emissions avoided: Approximately 293,800 tons annually
Local tidbit: The first railroad built into Roger Mills County was the Clinton Oklahoma & Western Railroad. It was called the COW Railroad for short and ran from Clinton to Strong City. The people of Cheyenne were afraid that Strong City might become the County Seat, so the town of Cheyenne built their own short line from Strong City to Cheyenne and it was nicknamed the CALF. This was the first rail line ever built by a town.
Red Hills Wind Farm represents ACCIONA’s first renewable-energy project in the state of Oklahoma. Well known for its vast oil and natural gas reserves, Oklahoma will come to be recognized for its wind resources as well, currently ranking in the top 10 U.S. states for wind-energy potential. The surrounding community continues to build on its pioneering spirit through their support of Red Hills Wind Farm.
The Red Hills Wind Farm will deliver enough clean energy to power more than 40,000 U.S. homes.
The completed Red Hills Wind Farm will create 15 new full-time local jobs and more than 200 people will be employed during the construction phase. Long-term lease agreements have been completed with 12 landowners or land trusts. Additionally, the Red Hills Wind Farm will provide increased revenues for Roger Mills and Custer counties through investments in local infrastructure, lease agreements with local landowners and property tax revenues from the project over its lifetime.
Community and environmental sustainability
During the four-year site development phase, ACCIONA participated in an extensive county permitting and review process. The company also conducted biological assessments, bird and bat impact studies, and wetland delineation to address wildlife concerns. Public meetings held in Cheyenne, Oklahoma, the Roger Mills County seat, in February and June 2008, allowed local communities the opportunity to review the wind farm maps and pose questions regarding the results of environmental impact studies. Following these meetings, ACCIONA secured the permits required to begin construction.
“It is wonderful to see Oklahoma’s vast wind resource utilized. The responsible expansion of wind generation facilities and the transmission needed to carry the wind resource to population centers will benefit all Oklahomans.”
—Bobby Wegener, Deputy Secretary of Energy, Oklahoma